Step closer for free GP care for under 6s

Some of the supplementary budget secured this week by the Department of Health will be used to coax family doctors over the line in an effort to finally introduce free GP care for children under six.

To date, €37m has been set aside to extend free GP care to approximately 240,000 under sixes, as well as to all over-70s.

However yesterday junior health minister Kathleen Lynch told the Irish Examiner that if they reached agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) in relation to the extension of free GP care to both these groups, “it will need more than the €37m”.