GPs to oppose free visits plan for under-6s

Health Minister Leo Varadkar’s plan to make GP visits free for under-6s by this summer is facing a major stumbling block after a leading GP group said it will oppose the “medical apartheid” move.

The National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) accused Mr Varadkar of attempting to buy the next general election, after rival union the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said on Thursday it is backing the changes to help reform the health service.

Under long-stated plans only now coming to fruition, the Department of Health has struck a €67m deal with GPs to gain support for plans to allow children under the age of six to be given free primary care visits.