GPs vow to deny patients free treatment after row

UP TO 200,000 people on low incomes expecting free visits to their family doctor from this month are set for disappointment because of a row between GPs and the Health Minister.

Doctors have vowed not to treat anyone under the new doctor-visit-only medical card, arguing it is pointless to fund GP visits without also paying patients’ medication costs.

Yesterday, outgoing president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) Dr James Reilly accused Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney of substituting the full medical card - which entitles the holder to free medical care - with “cheap partial cards.”