Health minister and Irish Medical Organisation continue to trade blows

THE row between the Health Minister and the main doctors' union escalated yesterday as both sides continued to trade criticisms.

President of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), Dr James Reilly, accused Minister Micheál Martin of being "extremely disingenuous" in claiming the Primary Care Strategy (PCS) would be seen as a "significant watershed" in terms of primary care in the future.

"At the current rate of progress, it will take another 50 years to implement. It is altogether disingenuous to promise improvements which are not going to happen anytime soon," Dr Reilly said. He accused the Minister of a "breach of faith" claiming he had not lived up to his promises of investment in primary care. Dr Reilly also defended his decision to interrupt Mr Martin at a press conference on Wednesday as he was outlining progress made in implementing the PCS.