Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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403. To ask the Minister for Health when the FEMPI cuts imposed on medical general practitioners will be reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7128/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As with other health professionals, General Practitioners were subject to fee reductions under FEMPI. I acknowledge the contribution made by GPs and other health professionals who provide services under contract on behalf of the HSE, through reductions in the fees in respect of these services, to addressing the unprecedented economic crisis which the State faced over recent years.

In the context of the publication of the Public Service Pay and Pension Bill 2017, on 7 November 2017, I announced that in 2018 I will undertake a process of engagement with representative bodies of contracted health professionals, aimed at putting in place a new multi-annual approach to fees, in return for service improvement and contractual reform and in line with Government priorities for the health service. I am currently considering, along with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the most appropriate approach in this regard. I expect engagement to begin shortly.