Wednesday 28th May 2014.

The IMO has today agreed a comprehensive Framework Agreement with the Department of Health which will allow the IMO to fully represent its GP members in relation to all aspects of their relationship with the Department in respect of the GMS / GP Contract and other publicly funded contracts.

Separately the Competition Authority has agreed to have its High Court action against the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) struck out with no order as to legal costs.

The IMO has also now secured confirmation from the Competition Authority that the IMO is entitled to represent its GP members with the HSE and the Government in respect of any proposed changes to publicly funded contracts with General Practitioners (such as the GMS Contract).

Speaking today, Dr. Ray Walley, Chairman of the GP Committee of the IMO said;

“These agreements - between the IMO and the Department of Health/HSE and the Competition Authority - are highly significant agreements for the IMO and our GP members. They provide a framework for and acknowledge our right to engage with the Minister for Health and / or the HSE in respect of the scope and content and the resources allocated to – and fees payable in respect of – publicly funded contracts for GPs.“

“These agreements confirm that the IMO is entitled to communicate with and, importantly, to discuss proposed agreements with our members and to freely express our opinions on those proposals. In doing so we acknowledge that it is the responsibility for individual members to decide whether to accept any proposal or not.”