RESTRICTIONS ON GPs who want to obtain contracts to treat public patients under the medical card, and similar, schemes have been eliminated under measures which come into force today.
The Department of Health said yesterday all qualified and vocationally trained GPs would have access to General Medical Services (GMS) scheme contracts under the new legislation. It said there would be no limits on the number of contractors.
It said the changes would permit new GMS contract-holders to establish a practice in the location of their choice.
However, it said a contract-holder approved by the HSE in one area, who wished to move, could only do so with the approval of the health authority. This was to ensure continuity of care.
The Department of Health said the new rules would give medical card and GP-visit card patients a greater choice of GPs. It said it would also ensure that private patients of new contract-holders, who may later qualify for a medical card or GP visit card, would not have to change their doctor.
The Minister for Health James Reilly said: “The elimination of restrictions . . . is a major step forward in the development of primary care, allowing many young, highly qualified and trained GPs, who were previously prevented from obtaining a GMS contract early in their careers, to apply.”
