Reform plan would see free GP care for all

Free GP care will be extended to 500,000 people each year for five years, under an ambitious plan to reform the health service.

Around 50% of the population currently has free GP care and extending it to all is estimated to cost between €62m and €72m per year and will take five years, according to the committee on the future of healthcare, which has cross-party involvement and support.

However, for the ambitious deadline to be met, the capacity of general practice will have to increase and a new GP contract agreed.