GPs ‘unlikely’ to repay State €1.8m

GENERAL practitioners who claimed €1.8 million in payments for deceased or “ghost” medical card holders are unlikely to repay the monies to the State, the State’s financial watchdog admitted yesterday.

The shocking news came as it emerged the repayments are likely to be written off as part of the present contract negotiations between the Department of Health and GPs.

The Government now concedes the decision on the €1.8m repayments will depend in part on “contractual review negotiations.”