TOUGH new eligibility criteria for medical cards are being considered as the numbers seeking free GP and medical services climb to record levels.

WHEN it comes to perks of the job, some are better than others and members of the medical profession do rather well by availing of free consultations and treatment from colleagues.

WHEN it comes to perks of the job, some are better than others and members of the medical profession do rather well by availing of free consultations and treatment from colleagues.

MORE than 60% of Fitness to Practise (FTP) inquiries completed by the Medical Council in 2010 related to foreign doctors.

DRASTIC health system changes to prevent existing GPs from blocking new doctors working in their area are set significantly to improve patients’ access to primary care services.

THE number of patients seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse has jumped dramatically since the onset of the recession, according to family doctors.

The head of the IMO's GP committee has said there is evidence that people are putting off visiting their doctor based on whether or not they can afford it.

FAMILY doctors have described the first phase in the roll-out of the Health Service Executive (HSE) swine flu vaccination programme as “chaotic” and “flawed”.

The swine flu vaccine was due to begin arriving in GPs’ surgeries today.

THE issue of whether family doctors are indemnified against any negative fall-out from the swine flu vaccine remains unclear, with just one day left for GPs to sign up to the Health Service Executive’s (HSE) pandemic vaccination programme.

NO agreement has been reached between family doctors and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to administer the swine flu vaccine despite HSE plans to commence the vaccination programme in two weeks.

The Irish Medical Organisation says HSE figures relating to payments made to GPs for operating the General Medical Services scheme don't tell the full story.

PHARMACISTS are selling the contraceptive pill to women without a prescription.

GARDA investigations could be jeopardised by the falling number of doctors able and willing to work for the Garda Síochána, it was claimed yesterday.

THE country is facing a “looming crisis” due to a lack of forensic doctors available to do vital garda work, medical experts warned yesterday.

FAMILY doctors are gravely concerned about the threat posed by internet pharmacies. They are shocked that more people seem to be diagnosing their illnesses and going online to buy the medicine to fit.

Patients turning to the internet to get cheap drugs can get almost anything they want, with no questions asked. Paul Kelly finds out just how easy it is to get round the law.

THE Irish Examiner today lifts the lid on the lucrative world of illegal internet pharmacies which are flooding Ireland with medicine from abroad.

DOCTOR-ONLY medical cards should be extended to all children under the age of five, according to Minister for Children Brian Lenihan.

DOCTORS and health service employers have said they are confident there will be a breakthrough in the ‘doctor only’ card row so the scheme can soon become operational.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health has expressed disappointment at the collapse of talks between doctors and health service employers over plans to introduce GP-only medical cards.

Doctors in Ireland are being singled out for European criticism for the over-prescription of antibiotics.

CORK city has become dotted with something resembling an outbreak of big black mumps which many foreign visitors probably imagine to be an avant-garde art exhibition staged as part of the European Capital of Culture programme.

The Irish Medical Organisation is calling for greater protection for doctors from violent patients.

I REFER to the article

A MAJOR row broke out between doctors and the Department of Health last night over who is to blame for the €51 million budget over-run in the medical card scheme.