Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
868. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioners that were employed through the general medical services scheme in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; the estimated annual cost of the GMS in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53384/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold agreements/contracts with the HSE for the provision of health services without charge including the GMS contract for the provision of GP care to medical card and GP visit card holders. The GMS is not a contract of employment.
Under the GMS contract, GPs are reimbursed by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) primarily on a capitation basis. They also receive fee-per-item payments for certain services and a range of financial practice supports.
The HSE PCRS website provides data on the number of HSE contracted GPs by month. The table below shows the number of GPs who hold a GMS contract, as well as the number of GPs who do not hold a GMS contract but hold some other HSE contract(s), for the current month and as of January 2024, 2025 and 2026.
|
- |
GPs with a GMS contract |
Non-GMS GPs with other contracts |
|
July 2026 |
2,604 |
642 |
|
January 2026 |
2,598 |
634 |
|
January 2025 |
2,539 |
615 |
|
January 2024 |
2,518 |
592 |
PCRS annual reports provide details of GP payments under the GMS and other schemes. As per the 2024 annual report, approximately €912 million was paid to GPs under the GMS scheme by PCRS in 2024. GMS costs for subsequent years will be detailed in subsequent PCRS annual reports when published.
