Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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696. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that medical card holders are often asked to pay at least €20 for a sick note from a general practitioner; if there are plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24469/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE reimburses GPs for services provided under the GMS contract to medical and GP visit card holders. Under the terms of the GMS contract, a medical certificate (sick note) shall be furnished to a person the medical practitioner has examined in relation to any illness noticed during the examination which is reasonably required by the patient.

However, Section 11 of the GMS contract stipulates that fees in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences" are not covered by the contract. Any fees charged by GPs for services provided outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the GP and their patient.

If a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card believes he or she has been incorrectly charged for services by his or her GP, then that patient should report the matter to their HSE Local Health Office. The local management, upon being notified of potential inappropriate charging of GMS patients, carry out an investigation into each complaint and will, where appropriate, arrange for a refund of charges incorrectly applied by the GP.