Welcome first step towards free GP care

THE Government has reached agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation on fees to be paid for a contract introducing free GP care for children under the age of six.

Under the deal, the Government will increase its investment in providing GP services to children under six to €67 million. Capitation fees for children under that age will be €125, up from the €68.65 currently received. Extra payments and supports bring that figure to €216.

The agreement has been described by Health Minister Leo Varadkar as a ‘significant breakthrough’ but he, very wisely, also acknowledged yesterday that we still have some way to go towards the provision of universal health care.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Varadkar said: “It’s the first visible step people will see on the road to universal health, and it is only a first step, we are phasing that in over the next number of years.”

Of equal importance to the agreement on fees, is the introduction of a new diabetic “cycle of care” contract, a first step towards introducing chronic care into general practice.

Mr Varadkar said the Government would begin negotiations on the next phases and he hoped to extend the model to more children and a ‘whole bundle’ of chronic diseases. That suggests a move away from age-related care to providing free services to those who need it most.

That, surely, is the best route towards free GP care for all.

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