Doctor-only medical cards to be issued from next month

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has announced plans to begin issuing new doctor-only medical cards from next month.

Ms Harney said today that the Health Service Executive would begin advertising the new cards shortly, following a Labour Relations Commission (LRC) recommendation today.

The LRC recommended that GPs co-operate with the introduction of the cards and other reforms in return for the resolution of a number of pay-related issues, including the payment of €48.5m withheld from doctors by the Government.