IMO: Recession hitting visits to GPs

The head of the IMO's GP committee has said there is evidence that people are putting off visiting their doctor based on whether or not they can afford it.

Doctors are to debate the impact of the recession on the health of the Irish people at their annual conference in Killarney, which begins this lunchtime.

Doctors from across the country are gathering at the Hotel Europe on the shores of Lough Leinn for the three day conference.

One of the first topics to be discussed will be the impact of the recession on Irish health.

Chair of the GP Committee, Doctor Ronan Boland, said many people are holding off visiting their GP, to save cash.

The IMO is also highly critical of the 50c prescription charge being imposed on medical card holders by the Government.

The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, won't be attending this year's event for the second year in a row.

A spokesperson for the organisation has said the minister was invited, but that she had a prior engagement.