Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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608. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the prices being charged in a medical practice are fair and appropriate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44824/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS (General Medical Services) contract with the HSE to provide services without charge to patients who hold a medical card or a GP visit card. GPs are reimbursed by the HSE for the provision of those services. Medical and GP visit card holders are not subject to a charge for GP face to face or phone consultations.

People who do not hold a medical card or GP visit card access GP services on a private basis. I have no role in relation to the fees charged by individual GPs for private consultations, as these are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and their patients.