Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 684: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there are guidelines or recommendations on the price general practitioners should charge patients for repeat prescriptions, particularly persons with long-term illnesses such as chronic asthma; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32876/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Consultation fees charged to private patients by General Practitioners are a matter of private contract between the doctor and the patient. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect General Practitioners to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees. The Medical Council's Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners states that the fees charged should be appropriate to the service provided and that patients should be informed of the likely costs before the consultation and treatment.

I should add that General Practitioners who hold General Medical Services contracts with the Health Service Executive must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders in respect of routine treatment and this includes the provision of prescriptions and repeat prescriptions.