Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages
Dail Éireann — 2020-03-19
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Brian Stanley (SF), Laois-Offaly

I want to raise a point with the Minister in that regard. Obviously, the intent is to slow down the spread but some GPs are charging on top of the €30 for the telephone consultation for suspected Covid-19. The scheme that has been brought in is helpful and its intent is to encourage people to have the test done. The fact it can be done over the telephone makes it safer. However, some GPs, although a very limited number, as of yesterday were trying to get a top-up payment when people phoned in. If this is happening, I ask that the Irish Medical Organisation is contacted and told that it should not be happening. Where GPs are engaged in that irregularity, they should not be at risk of losing the €30 from the State. They should not be getting it from the State and then claiming it from the patient as well.

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:47:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-03-19