Emergency Covid-19 pay to Irish GPs to come to an end

Emergency Covid-19 measures introduced at Irish doctors in general practice are ending. 

The Department of Health today (December 8) announced changes to the measures introduced in March 2020, which includes the cessation of free remote consultations at GP surgeries and respiratory clinics, as well as referrals for Covid-19 testing. 

It comes as Ireland's public health strategy for managing Covid-19 moves from a response based on testing and tracing infection to reduce transmission, to a mitigation phase focused on reducing the impact of the virus on those most vulnerable. 

From from Friday December 9, GPs will no longer be subsidised by the HSE to refer patients to a community test centre, and any private patients attending their GP will be subject to normal consultation fees. 

Patients with GP Visit Cards and Medical Cards will not be affected by this change. 

Although GPs will no longer refer patients to one of the 29 community testing centres, the HSE's self-referral portal remains open. 

In addition, a new fee will be paid by the HSE to GPs to cover consultations with vulnerable patients for whom the GP requires the result of a Covid-19 test to contribute to the diagnosis and management of the patient, such as those who would benefit from the prescription of the Covid-19 antiviral medicine, Paxlovid. 

GPs can test vulnerable patients during consultations where clinically required rather than referring the patient to a testing centre. 

This €55 fee will be paid in respect of patients who are categorized as being at the highest risk of becoming ill from Covid-19. 

Although Covid-19 testing is no longer advised for the majority, it is essential that everyone continues to follow all publc health guidelines. 

Anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19 should continue to self-isolate until 48 hours after symptoms have substantially or fully resolved.