Government plans to introduce 200,000 doctor-only medical cards have been delayed after talks ended in deadlock last night.
The day-long discussions at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) failed to bridge outstanding differences and allow the government scheme to be implemented.
Martin Daly, IMO GP leader
The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Health Service Executive Employers' Agency could not find agreement after ten hours of talks.
The new cards, proposed by Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney, offer patients free medical care but not drugs or medicines. The scheme was announced last November but has been held up by a row with the IMO, which represents GPs.
IMO members voted last month to operate the new scheme on foot of a €93 million deal with the Health Service Executive. However, new difficulties arose within weeks of this ballot being carried.
The latest obstacle is whether patients with doctor-only cards will receive a full medical card when they turn 70 and how much GPs will be paid for providing care in such circumstances.
The IMO today claimed the proposals fell short of committments offered in the last programme for Government.
Martin Daly, IMO GP leader, said this morning his organisation would not compromise on the issue. "The Government promised 200,000 medical cards in the programme for Government, they haven't delivered upon that," he said on RTÉ radio. "This is a shoddy attempt to pretend to deliver on their promises."
Mr Daly insisted the scheme would leave some over 70s without full entitlements to free health care. He stressed that it was not about ensuring more money for doctors and said it was to guarantee that some over 70s were not left clutching second hand medical cards.
Gerard Barry, Health Service Executive employers
But Gerard Barry, head of the Health Service Executive employers, gave commitments that every person in the country over 70 years of age would have a full medical card with all the benefits. "Everybody who reaches the age of 70, who doesn't already hold a medical card, will qualify for a full medical card. There will be nobody over the age of 70 who does not have a medical card," Mr Barry said.
He insisted the cards would be offered with the full range of entitlements and accused the IMO of trying to renegotiate contracts and look for more money.
"More money on top of the €93 million deal we negotiated last month, I don't think that's fair and I don't think that's reasonable," he said.
There are no plans to return to the LRC and fears are growing that the scheme could be in jeopardy unless a breakthrough is achieved.