Government delivers on free GP care for people with diabetes in Budget 2012

05/12/2011

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D., has allocated €15 million to fund implementation of the Programme for Government commitments on access to GP care.
Minister Howlin said that this funding will allow the health care system to meet the demands placed on it and, in particular, accommodate the continued growth in demand-led schemes such as medical cards and long-term illness care for conditions like diabetes.

The €15m will fund access to primary care without fees to claimants of free drugs under the Long Term Illness (LTI) scheme. The move was welcomed by Ms. Róisín Shortall T.D., Minister of State for Primary Care who said that the budget measures will come into effect for those with LTI scheme from March 2012.

See related article: More GPs needed to bring diabetes care to primary and community level

Free GP care for the officially estimated 56,000 people who are registered as having a long-term illness will come into effect in early March 2012 according to the Department of Health, though there are concerns that this number is greatly underestimated.

Diabetes Ireland estimates that there over 160,000 people in Ireland with diabetes (and a further 30,000 with undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes).  A large portion of those diagnosed already use the Long Term Illness Scheme and will be able to avail of free GP care next year, however many also qualify for the Over 70s Medical Card with which holders already have free GP visits.  The crossover between the schemes makes if difficult to estimate how many people with diabetes will be able avail of free GP visits for the first time in 2012.

More information on the Long Term Illness Scheme.
More information on the Over 70s Medical Card.
See related article: More GPs needed to bring diabetes care to primary and community level