Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the negotiations on the general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28086/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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General practice is one of the cornerstones of our health service and the Government recognises that the contractual arrangements between the HSE and GPs must enable patients' needs to be met while also addressing the sustainability of general practice into the future.

The Government is therefore committed to engaging with the representatives of general practitioners on the development of a package of measures and reforms to modernise the 1989 GMS Contract. Our goal is to develop a contractual framework that has a population health focus, providing in particular for health promotion, disease prevention and for the structured care of chronic conditions and up-to-date provisions on service quality and standards, performance and accountability. 

Officials from my Department and the HSE met with the Irish Medical Organisation at the beginning of May to set out the State's position in relation to the GMS contract and to progress this important issue.  The Department subsequently wrote to the Irish Medical Organisation to set out the proposals made at that meeting in writing and is currently awaiting the Organisation's official response. 

In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in position to give further details while discussions between the parties are under way.

Reform of the GMS contract will enable general practitioners to better meet the needs of their patients while promoting general practice as a viable and rewarding career for both existing doctors and future medical graduates.

I look forward to positive and productive engagement with all parties concerned that will facilitate a substantial increase in Government resourcing of general practice on a multi annual basis, contingent of course on agreement to the delivery of much-needed service improvements and contractual reforms.