Written answers

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Department of Health

General Practitioner Services

Photo of Michael CahillMichael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

841. To ask the Minister for Health if there are plans to provide routine blood tests free of charge for all, as currently, the fee, ranging from €25 to €55, is causing a lot of stress, in both health and financial terms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36097/25]

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

GPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders.

Eligibility for a medical card or GP visit card is based primarily on residency and means, while certain groups are automatically eligible for either card. All children under 8 years and all persons aged 70 years and over are eligible for a GP visit card. Eligibility for a GP visit card through means testing was expanded in 2023 to include all persons earning up to the median household income.

GP services to medical card and GP visit card holders are provided through the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme. Under the terms of the current GMS contract, GPs who hold a GMS contract are required to provide eligible patients with ''all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a general practitioner and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which general practitioners cannot reasonably be expected to possess". Persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card are not subject to any co-payments or other charges in respect of such services.

The issue of GPs charging GMS patients for blood tests is complex given the numerous reasons and circumstances under which blood tests are taken. Clinical determinations as to whether a blood test should be taken to either assist in the diagnosis of illness or the treatment of a condition are made by the GP concerned. There is no provision under the GMS GP contract for persons who hold a medical card or a GP visit card to be charged for clinically necessary blood tests. In addition, blood tests undertaken in the context of the GP Chronic Disease Management programme are covered by the fees paid to GPs by the HSE for this care.

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 the patient concerned. The HSE does not have any role in relation to fees charged to patients on a private basis.

At present, there are no plans to provide access to routine blood tests free of charge for all through GP services.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.