Call for end to current GP contracts

The report on public service cutbacks calls on the HSE to phase out existing GP and pharmacist contracts

Bord Snip says the HSE should phase out these contracts as soon as possible and fashion specific contracts enabling it to specify the services it requires and to set a price acceptable in the current dramatically changed budgetary situation.

It believes savings of up to €370 million could be achieved from such a tendering approach to the provision of services under the medical card scheme.

On hospital services, the cutbacks report stresses that reform of the acute hospital sector will be influenced by the HSE's ability to deliver an integrated healthcare strategy, and says primary care teams are an essential prerequisite to the rationalisation of acute hospitals.

The report calls for more efficient collection of hospital charges, and wants a reduction of at least 20% in non-emergency patient transport services.

Under the Bord Snip plan, A&E charges would increase by €25 and inpatient charges would go up by 20%. In addition, charges for private facilities in public hospitals should be increased by 20%, according to the report.

The report calls for mandatory protocols to be introduced for hospitals and doctors to provide generic drugs.

It says this would overcome the problem where GPs are often reluctant to change consultant prescriptions to cheaper equivalent drugs once the patient is out of hospital.

[Posted: Thu 16/07/2009]