THE HIGH COURT action taken against the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has today been struck out following an agreement being made in the dispute with the Competition Authority.

The IMO today agreed to 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 GP contract and other publicly funded contracts.

Competition law

Previously, GP members of the IMO had threatened to withdraw from certain services which the Competition Authority said would be in breach of competition law. They initiated proceedings against the IMO as a result.

In a statement today, the IMO said the had also 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 GPs,  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.

Dr Walley said that “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”.

He said in doing so the IMO acknowledges that it is the responsibility for individual members to decide whether to accept any proposal or not.

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