A new frontline health minister is needed to improve the country’s wellbeing, medics and patients have said.

Ahead of today’s deadline for family doctors to sign up to free care for under-sixes, Health Minister Leo Varadkar and his junior minister Kathleen Lynch yesterday wrote to GPs to clarify issues around the scheme and tell those who have not signed the contract that it is not too late to do so.

A survey of just over 1,000 GPs commissioned by the National Association of General Practitioners found that just one in five intend signing up for the scheme before the May 27 deadline.

Doctors have warned Leo Varadkar his plan for free GP care for under-sixes “will not happen” unless he meets with the National Association of General Practitioners and sort out certain issues.

A new survey indicates the vast majority of doctors will refuse to sign up for free GP care scheme for children under six.

The introduction of free GP care for children under six should be put on hold in favour of widening medical card access to those most in need, a representative body has said.

What would I do? We asked 12 organisations to outline how they would frame tomorrow’s budget.

A row between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Competition Authority over whether the union could negotiate collective agreements has ended in the IMO giving an undertaking not to organise or recommend a collective withdrawal of services or boycott by members.

The Taoiseach has accepted the removal of discretionary medical cards is "an issue" of concern to parents of sick and vulnerable children and has asked the HSE to take a more humane approach when examining cases.

The Cabinet-signalled free GP care for children under six will be pushed through by July, despite the medical profession insisting the initiative is unworkable.

Health Minister James Reilly paints a rosy picture of the future of Irish healthcare (‘The Health Service Needs to Change and Now Is the Time’, Irish Examiner, April 10). It is interesting that his missive is juxtaposed with an article by Chris Goodey, who warns loudly of the crisis in general practice.

The chief executive of a body representing general practitioners has claimed it is “immoral” that medical cards are being taken away from the most vulnerable and given to children who do not need them.

Health Minister James Reilly has said an initiative to cut waiting lists for health procedures will be unveiled next month.

National Association of General Practitioners claims that more than 100 GP practices could close and say that general practice "is on the verge of extinction".

The Government published a new draft contract for the provision of free GP care for all children aged under six yesterday evening.

An organisation representing family doctors has warned that 150 general practices could shut down in the near future due to funding cutbacks by the HSE.

Some family doctors owed money by the HSE for out-of-hours services are being paid substantially less than is their due, according to the National Association of General Practitioners.

Nelson Mandela today sent thanks to Irish people turning out for the European premiere of a rock ballet raising money for his AIDS charity.