Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 966: To ask the Minister for Health the measures he is taking to reduce doctors' fees which are between €50 to €70 per visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1381/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Consultation fees charged by general practitioners to private patients are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians 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. The Health (Provision of General Practitioner Services) Bill 2011 was published on 30th September 2011. The Bill provides for the elimination of restrictions on GPs wishing to treat public patients under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme. This legislation will encourage young GPs to remain in Ireland and to establish their practices here. It will also encourage competition among GPs at a time when many fee paying patients have less money at their disposal.

The Programme for Government provides for significant strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to access for patients. This commitment will be achieved on a phased basis to allow for the recruitment of additional doctors, nurses and other primary care professionals. Access to primary care without fees will be extended in 2012 to claimants of free drugs under the Long-Term Illness Scheme and in 2013 to claimants of free drugs under the High-Tech Drugs Scheme. Access to subsidised primary care will be extended to all in the next phase and universal access to care without fees will occur in the final phase.

Primary legislation is required to give effect to these commitments. It is hoped that free GP care for claimants of free drugs under the Long-Term Illness Scheme will be in place by early Summer. There will be an announcement in due course about the start date for this arrangement.