On 7 November, Minister for Health Simon Harris TD announced his Department will begin to engage on fees for contracted health professionals, including general practitioners who provide services to medical card holders and other schemes.
This is the first step in reversing the destructive cuts under FEMPI, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, which reduced GP practice incomes by around 38%.
The ICGP Chairman, Dr John Gillman said:
"The orderly wind-down of FEMPI for general practitioner contractors is to be welcomed. However, the negative impact of the repeated cuts in funding to general practitioner services of around 38% has created severe damage to the system's ability to deliver services to our patients within our communities."
"Nine years of FEMPI have compromised our ability to retain new and established doctors in the Irish healthcare system. I am concerned that the continuation of FEMPI into 2018 will result in further practice closures, further emigration, and further difficulties in recruiting and training new doctors."
"Clarification of timelines for the reversal of the FEMPI cuts is essential, and is urgent.
Delaying the FEMPI reversal until after 2019 will result in irreversible damage to Irish healthcare, Irish general practice and Irish communities."
Currently, there are vacant practice lists around the country, huge difficulties finding locums to enable doctors to take holidays or sick leave, leaving some rural communities facing the prospect of no GP, or waiting times to see a GP in busy urban practices.
Dr Mark Murphy, Chair of Communications with the ICGP said, "General practice is the best example of a public-private partnership in the State. Primary care can lead the reform of the health services, but only when general practice is properly resourced, and individual GPs can have financial security, combined with modern flexible contracts to promote innovation at practice level."
Aileen O'Meara, Communications Consultant, Irish College of General Practitioners
Tel. 01 5175311 / 087 2239830, Email: media@icgp.ie
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