Hopes of breakthrough in medical card issue

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 introduction of the 200,000 cards, first announced last November and due to be operational early this year, has been beset with problems. Talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) broke down earlier this week even though GPs had balloted to accept the scheme in previous weeks.

Health managers and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) are still in contact but a date has not been set for formal talks.