Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a general practitioner treating a GMS patient is paid per visit or per prescription issued in respect of that patient; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13848/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme general practitioners hold one of two contract types, i.e., the fee per item contract (first introduced in 1972) or the capitation contract (effective from 1989). Fee per item contract GPs are paid a fee per visit by a GMS patient and under the capitation contract, GPs are paid a yearly capitation fee per patient. The capitation fee paid by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the GP varies depending on the age, gender and distance of the GMS patient's home from the GP's surgery. Over 99% of GPs contracted by the HSE to provide services under the GMS Scheme do so under the capitation contract.