The Labour Relations Commission has issued detailed recommendations to the Irish Medical Organisation and the Health Service Executive on the proposed 200,000 doctor-only medical cards, outstanding pay increases for GPs and other issues.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has welcomed the recommendations which she said will allow for the cards to be issued as well as other developments.
The Irish Medical Organisation's GP Committee is to meet tomorrow to consider the proposals and to decide on whether to ballot doctors with a recommendation.
The proposals are costed at around €93m, of which around €35m relates to Benchmarking for GPs to co-operate with the doctor-only cards, a full review of the GP contract and other matters.
It is proposed that GPs will be paid €35 for each doctor-only card they sign on, up to a limit of 200,000 cards.
The cost of outstanding pay awards due to GPs is put at €48.5m.
The Health Service Executive is to advertise the doctor-only cards shortly with a view to having them issued by July.
