01/07/2015

Free GP Care For Children Under 6 Begins

Free GP Care for children under the age of 6 starts today, 01 July.

All children who are registered under the Scheme can attend their GP without charge.

Over 79,000 children have been registered to avail of this new service and over 2,030 GPs have signed up to provide services as part of the scheme.

Parents/guardians can still register their children for the service after the commencement date, however, the HSE is encouraging them to register their children on www.gpvisitcard.ie to ensure they have easy access to the service when they need it.

Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD, said: "This marks the first tangible step towards universal health care with the extension of GP services without fees to children under the age of six, and an enhanced and better-funded service for children under six who already have a medical or doctor visit card.

"The second step comes in early August with the inclusion of people aged 70 or older. This will make a real difference to the youngest and oldest people in society."

(CD/JP)

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