GP price war anticipated as new practice slashes fees

A new medical practice in Killarney has slashed its consultation fees to what the doctors feel people can afford to pay.

Sparking excitement about a GP price war in the town, Dr Michael Moloney and Dr Michael O’Doherty are offering a cut-price consultation fee of €40 — up to €25 cheaper than other practices in the area.

Secondary school students will get a consultation for €25 at the Killarney Medical Centre, according to a large advertisement in the local press.

Dr Moloney said he had no interest in a price war but they had reduced prices to what they deemed appropriate and suitable to their business model.

He said he and Dr O’Doherty were conscious of people struggling with the financial crisis. Dr Moloney said he wanted to remove “some of the barriers for people accessing primary care services”. He said there was difficulty of access regardless of price and they were trying to be a little more flexible by opening the practice at 8am.

Speaking on Radio Kerry, he agreed that people were putting off going to see a doctor because of a €50 consultation fee.

However, Dr Moloney said he had worked in several practices and it was his experience that doctors were flexible with patients when it came to fees.