AGM to be dominated by controversial proposed new GP contract, shortage of Consultants and debate on Universal Health Insurance

Friday 25thApril 2014. The worsening dispute between GPs and the Minister for Health over the Government’s controversial new contract for GPs, the shortage of Consultants in many of the country’s hospitals and the Governments plan’s for Universal Health Insurance are amongst the issues that will dominate the AGM of the Irish Medical Organisation, which begins today. The AGM takes place in Carton House in Co. Kildare and will be attended by doctors from across the country.
 

On Saturday morning a meeting of GP members will take place, which will discuss the Government’s controversial proposals for a new GMS Contract with GPs. GPs have expressed outrage at the proposals and have called on the Government to engage in full negotiations on the issue. The Minister of State for Primary Care, Alex White TD, has accepted an invitation to speak at the session, which will be attended by hundreds of GPs.
 

The AGM will also debate significant changes to the organisation’s Rules and Structures that have been proposed in the wake of last year’s controversy over the departure of the former Chief Executive of the organisation.
 

The new rules are designed to increase transparency in the organisation and ensure greater accountability to members. The rules will also ensure that the salary of the organisation’s Chief Executive is published each year to avoid any repeat of the situation where members didn’t know how much the previous CEO was paid as Chief Executive.