Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on securing a new general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7499/13]

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the date on which he intends to engage in discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation to examine reform of primary care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7820/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 320 together.

The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a new General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) contract with an increased emphasis on the management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It is envisaged that the new contract, when finalised, will focus on prevention and will include a requirement for GPs to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary Primary Care Teams.

The Department and the HSE are currently examining the changes that need to be made to the GMS contract to facilitate the introduction of Universal Primary Care. There have been discussions with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Competition Authority with regard to Competition Law.

I have recently had discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) during which I outlined our policy in relation to free GP care. I would expect to engage in further discussions with the IMO as the legislation progresses.