A Co Clare doctor has said she does not believe the scheme for free GP care for under-sixes can be rolled out on 1 July.
Dr Yvonne Williams, who is on the council for the National Association of General Practitioners, has taken a High Court case against the Health Service Executive in an attempt to block the introduction of the scheme.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said providing free GP care to "healthy, wealthy" children will come at the expense of older children, sick people, and children with cancer and diabetes.
She said if there is not enough money to provide GP care for the poorer half of society and for children who are sick with chronic illnesses, we should not be providing it first to children who are well.
Dr Williams said the majority of GPs have not signed up for the deal, despite a second deadline approaching and said she believes that many GPs who have signed up to the deal have done so against their will.
Her comments come as Minister for Health Leo Varadkar is to send letters to GPs today saying that a critical mass of GPs have now signed up to the deal and to remind them that free care is now a legal right for those aged under six.
Meanwhile, Irish Medical Organisation president Ray Walley has said the NAGP assessment of the number of GPs who have signed up to the scheme is incorrect.
He said more than 1,000 GPs have signed up.
Dr Walley said the deal was at least sustainable but said other areas within general practice needed to be looked at.
He said if GPs do not sign up to the scheme, patients can transfer to another doctor to avail of the scheme and while some patients may choose to do this, the IMO does not want to see a mass transfer of patients.
