Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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35. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the negotiations of general practitioner contracts; if there is a plan for the key components; the details of same; and the deadline for the completion of the contract negotiations. [30688/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high-quality, integrated and cost effective health service. The Programme for Government commits to a decisive shift within the health service towards primary care in order to deliver better care close to home in communities across the country. The development of a new, modernised contract for the provision of general practitioner services will be a key element in facilitating this process.

Engagements to date have seen the Department of Health, HSE and IMO agree a number of service developments including: the introduction of a Diabetes Cycle of Care for adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes; an enhanced support framework for rural GPs, which is expected to double the number of qualifying GPs to about 330; and a revised list of special items of service under the contract to encourage the provision of more services in the primary care setting. These measures, combined with the under-6s and over-70s initiatives, will increase the financial support for general practice.

Preparations for the next phase of discussions on a new GP contract are under way. These discussions will address a wide range of issues, including the role of GPs in delivering chronic care within the community. I expect that further engagement with GP representative bodies on these matters will take place this year. As with any negotiation-type process, the engagement may take some time. While I am of course anxious to see good progress made, it is not my intention to set a deadline for completion of discussions.