Charge for out-of-hours medical card service: GP

Financially stretched medical card holders who call GPs out of hours should be forced to pay a €5 penalty instead of receiving the support for free, a doctor has claimed.

Former Irish Medical Organisation president Ken Egan made the suggestion on the final day of the union’s annual general conference in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Hitting out at what he described as the “worried well” seeking care they do not need, the Mayo-based GP told delegates the financial penalty should be imposed to bring an end to the situation. He added that the €5 charge, which he likened to the 50c drug prescription charge, would stop these people from seeking “test after test” for non-existent illnesses.