Doctors to get €40,000 each in new card deal
The payment, which applies to 2,000 GPs who treat medical card holders, includes €48.5 million due under two national wage agreements, was paid to other health service workers but withheld from GPs. It is part of a proposal issued yesterday by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) designed to end a long-running dispute between the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Department of Health and health service managers.
The LRC has also recommended payment of a GP benchmark award of €35m. In addition, a one-off payment of €7m will be paid to GPs who sign up patients under the new doctor visit card scheme, equating to €35 per card. This offer extends only to the first 200,000 cards issued.
To receive backpay, the IMO must sign up to performance verification under Sustaining Progress. It must also avail of established industrial relations mechanisms to resolve disputes.
In return for the benchmarking award, the IMO will be expected to co-operate with a range of service improvements.
The LRC Recommendation also provides for a fundamental review of the GMS (medical card scheme) and sets out the terms of reference for that review.
Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney said they would pave the way for the introduction of the doctor visit card.
“I would encourage people on low incomes to apply for them right away,” she said.
Chair of the IMO’s GP Committee, Dr Martin Daly said the IMO was hopeful they would form the basis for a lead in to a comprehensive review of GP services.
The Asthma Society of Ireland (ASI) welcomed the recommendations, saying if agreed upon, they would remove one of the financial barriers that exist to people controlling their asthma.
