Free GP Care To Be Extended From August

Tuesday, 4 July 2023 09:54

By Caoimhe Harney

It is expected to bring an extra half a million people under the system.

Free GP care for around 78,000 children aged six and seven is expected to be introduced from August.

It is understood that these cards will also be extended to around 430,000 people on no more than the average household income, during September and August.

The median household income last year was €46,999.

It is expected to bring an extra half a million people under the system.

It follows a new deal agreed between the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Government after several months of talks, that will be announced today.

The planned extension of free GP care for those aged six and seven was announced in Budget 2021, but had been delayed due to negotiations with doctors who had expressed concerns about their capacity to take on the extra work.

The IMO element of the new deal for GPs is understood to cost around €130m.

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