THE Minister for Health has confirmed that there is no provision made in the contract with general practitioners for medical card holders or those with GP visit cards to be charged for blood tests or routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP.
The matter has been raised at Kerry County Council level by Cllr Michael Cahill who said the minister’s response was exactly how he had read the situation.
“I queried the previous Minister for Health on this issue some months ago and again at a recent meeting, calling on Minister Donnelly and the HSE to clarify the situation and ensure that patients with a medical card or GP visit card are not charged for blood tests if it forms part of the necessary treatment or investigation,” he said.
“It has become an increasingly important issue with Covid-19 in our midst,” Cllr Cahill added.
Minister Donnelly stated that he is aware that some patients are being charged and he has asked the HSE to seek a solution.
Cllr Cahill stated: “This is a major financial burden for people with health issues who regularly require blood tests to be taken and I trust now, following this intervention, that the practice will cease immediately”.
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