Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
779. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health how many GP visits were there in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the average cost of visiting a GP in each year, and the total revenue from GP visits in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35671/25]
View answerGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of GP services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. As GPs are private practitioners, the HSE does not hold data regarding the number of day-time GP visitations provided on an annual basis. The annual Healthy Ireland survey may be of assistance in providing estimated visitation rates by age and eligibility status.
Under the GMS contract, GPs are reimbursed by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) primarily on a capitation basis, rather than per visit basis. They also receive fee-per-item payments for certain services and a range of financial supports. The fees charged by GPs for services provided to patients on a private basis are a matter of private contract between the clinician and the patient. Accordingly, data is not held on the average cost of a GP visit or in relation to GP revenue from visits from patients who do not hold a medical or GP visit card. Information regarding GP expenditure under the GMS contact and other public contracts is available from the PRCS online portal.
