GPs may not implement new medical cards

OFFICIALS from the Department of Health are to meet with doctors’ leaders after GPs indicated that they may not co-operate with the introduction of doctor-only medical cards.

The cards are due to be available to 200,000 patients in April but the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned its members are unsure about co-operating with the scheme as they believe outstanding grievances with the department should be addressed first.

But yesterday IMO president Dr James Reilly said senior members of the IMO do not intend “turning this into an industrial relations issue”.