Consumer survey - Doctors’ fee findings don’t add up

NOT for the first time, the Consumer Association is challenging the findings of an official survey on the prices charged by professionals in rip-off Ireland.

According to a Department of Health study, €36 is the average price patients pay for a consultation with their GP. Remarkably, however, it also found most patients do not regard those fees as excessive.

Yet, it appears medical card holders visit the doctor almost twice as frequently as private patients, which explains why the Coalition reneged on its election pledge to boost the number of card holders by 200,000.

According to the Consumer Association, the survey is less than satisfactory because it does not cover a range of locations. It believes patients pay between €35 and €50 per consultation in Dublin, Galway, Cork and other cities.

A more extensive, specific and independent survey is needed to give a clearer picture of GP fees.

Doubtless, it would explain why 40% of people in a Public Health Alliance survey described financial problems as the biggest obstacle to improving their health.