GPs threaten strike action if forced to repay €20m

DOCTORS threatened to go on strike yesterday and withdraw from the free medical card scheme if they are forced to refund €20m paid to them for treating "ghost patients."

The GPs were paid the money for treating more than 25,000 patients who had died or moved away from their area, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee heard yesterday.

This massive overpayment was made under the free medical card scheme, which was extended to all people over 70 just a year before the general