THE GOVERNMENT is pushing ahead with plans to introduce free GP care for all by 2015 and universal health insurance the following year, Minister of State with Responsibility for Primary Care Róisín Shortall said yesterday.
She also said GP fees for the 56,000 people registered as having long-term illnesses would be abolished next March at a cost of €15 million. This will be followed in 2013 by the abolition of fees for the 50,000 people on the high-dependency drugs scheme at a further cost of €15 million. Free GP care will then be rolled out to the rest of the population at an estimated cost of €300 million by 2015, according to Ms Shortall.
She made the announcements – promised in the Labour Party’s pre-election health manifesto – at the inaugural national Primary Care Conference in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Ms Shortall also announced funding of €250 million for the provision and development of primary care teams and centres around the State.
