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22/10/2008
Reilly Accused Of 'Conflict of Interest'
The Fine Gael Health spokesperson has been accused of having a conflict of interest over his opposition to the cutbacks in medical card eligibility.
Dr James Reilly was instrumental in negotiating the terms on behalf of GPs when the deal on medical cards for all over-70s was struck seven years ago.
Dr Reilly secured an agreement for a fee of €161 to treat those who qualify on means ground and €640 for those in qualify on age for a medical card. This has led to a situation were GPs in affluent areas with many older patients have benefited the most.
During a Daíl debate, the Junior Minister Conor Lenihan said Fine Gael was saying the fees were fair, and accused Dr Reilly of having a conflict of interest in keeping the fees at the same level.
However, Dr Reilly denied the allegation, "The IMO has nothing to do with it. I am the Fine Gael spokesman on health and the Fine Gael position is we want universal health care," he said.
In the original negotiations, the Irish Medical Organisation sought payment for GPs for each visit by persons over 70, but settled for a fee calculated on an estimate of 12 visits a year.
HSE figures show an average of four visits per year by this group, but Dr Reilly disputed this figure. He said one large medical practice had calculated an average of 10.9 visits per year by its over-70s patients.
(DW)
Dr James Reilly was instrumental in negotiating the terms on behalf of GPs when the deal on medical cards for all over-70s was struck seven years ago.
Dr Reilly secured an agreement for a fee of €161 to treat those who qualify on means ground and €640 for those in qualify on age for a medical card. This has led to a situation were GPs in affluent areas with many older patients have benefited the most.
During a Daíl debate, the Junior Minister Conor Lenihan said Fine Gael was saying the fees were fair, and accused Dr Reilly of having a conflict of interest in keeping the fees at the same level.
However, Dr Reilly denied the allegation, "The IMO has nothing to do with it. I am the Fine Gael spokesman on health and the Fine Gael position is we want universal health care," he said.
In the original negotiations, the Irish Medical Organisation sought payment for GPs for each visit by persons over 70, but settled for a fee calculated on an estimate of 12 visits a year.
HSE figures show an average of four visits per year by this group, but Dr Reilly disputed this figure. He said one large medical practice had calculated an average of 10.9 visits per year by its over-70s patients.
(DW)
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