Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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529. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase the amount provided to general practitioners to perform small procedures, for example, mole removal, in their surgeries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39386/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The HSE, through the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS), makes payments to contracted General Practitioners (GPs) for services they provide to eligible persons who hold a medical card or GP visit card in accordance with the rates set out in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) Regulations 2013 - SI 277/2013, which came into effect on 24th July 2013.

Included among these are fees for special items of service, such as excisions/cryotherapy/diathermy of skin lesions; suturing of cuts and lacerations; draining of hydroceles; treatment and plugging of dental and nasal haemorrhages; recognised vein treatment, etc. The full list of special items is listed at Schedule 4 of the above Regulations.

The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a new GMS 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.

Officials in my Department are in consultation with the HSE with a view to drawing up a new contract. The appropriate arrangements in relation to special items of service will be considered as part of the new contract.