Dáil Question on IMO and HSE GP contract January 2013

QUESTION NO: 1091

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr White) by Deputy Anthony Lawlor for WRITTEN ANSWER on 16/01/2013

* To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made between his Department, the Health Service Executive and the Irish Medical Orgainsation to review the GMS contract with general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY.

The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a new General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) contract with an increased emphasis on the management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It is envisaged that the new contract, when finalised, will focus on prevention and will include a requirement for GPs to provide care as part of integrated multidisciplinary Primary Care Teams.

My Department and the HSE are currently examining the changes that need to be made to the GMS contract to facilitate the introduction of Universal Primary Care. There have been preliminary discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to outline policy in this regard and I would hope that we will be able to engage in further discussions before long.

ENDS