Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Health if doctors in the Health Service Executive north east region has been charging medical card patients for blood tests; the timeframe in which this practice has been going on; if this practice is in breach of the GMS contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5145/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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In circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) assist in the process of diagnosing a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, General Practitioners (GPs) may not charge patients if they are eligible for free GMS services under the Health Act, 1970, as amended. It is the contracted responsibility of GPs to provide proper and necessary treatment to eligible persons. If part of that proper and necessary treatment includes routine phlebotomy, GPs must provide such services free of charge under the terms of their General Medical Services (GMS) contract.

The HSE has written to GP contract holders and clarified the position in relation to this matter and has also communicated its position to the Irish Medical Organisation.

Where evidence had emerged of GPs charging patients for routine phlebotomy services, the HSE wrote to the GP contractors advising them that by charging GMS patients they were in breach of the GMS contract and that persistence in the practice of charging patients could have contractual implications, including adjustments to routine payments such as nurse subsidies. The HSE is continuing to address this issue.

The HSE is also continuing to advise eligible patients who believe they have been inappropriately charged by a GP for routine phlebotomy services, to seek a refund from the GPs in question.

In relation to the provision of phlebotomy services to GMS patients by GPs in the HSE's North East region, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.