Doctor demands ‘may stall free GP care for a decade’

Government plans to introduce free GP care for everyone in Ireland could be delayed by a decade because of doctors’ compensation and resource demands.

Irish Medical Organisation GP chair Ray Walley made the claim as talks continue between the union and the Department of Health over how the policy can be introduced.

Dr Walley told the website, www.irishhealth.com, that while the doctors’ group supports free GP care in theory, it is unlikely the universal healthcare system on which it is based, will be implemented for up to 10 years.