Varadkar: Free GP care deal won't please everyone

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said that it is almost impossible to strike a deal on free GP care for the under 6s that completely satisfies all sides involved.

An agreement was brokered on the issue this week, after the Government announced that it would be increasing the fee to be paid to doctors under the scheme.

Minister Varadkar will address the Irish Medical Organisation's AGM in Kilkenny today.

He is likely to discuss doctors' concerns over the new scheme, which is due to take effect from July.

Leo Varadkar says it is difficult to envisage all parties coming away completely happy.

"That's the way these things work and, you know, everyone comes in with their price and then you try and make up the difference either by splitting the financial difference or by getting extra value,

"But if you look at what GPs are getting, €125 basic for a child, up to just over €200 if you include all the extras, anyone who brings their kid to the GP will know it costs about €50, €60 per visit, so that's the equivalent of three of four visits a year."