Free GP care is set to be rolled out to children up to the age of 12, Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed.
The Bill will also see those aged over 70 have increased access to medical cards in which 56,000 elderly are set to benefit from.
The free GP care will be introduced on a phased basis impacting six and seven year olds first and later rolled out to all primary school children.
The weekly gross medical card income limit for single people over 70 will be set at €500 and will be €1,050 for couples.
The proposed legislation dubbed a “significant milestone” will have to be passed by the incoming government.
Minister Harris welcomed the government decision to approve the publication of the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020.
He said: “The benefits of this legislation are twofold.
“It will significantly improve access to GP services for children and also increase the numbers of those over 70 who have access to a medical card.
“This Bill will therefore give effect to two welcome measures which are important steps to delivering on the Government’s commitment to ensure affordable access to healthcare for all.
“Providing a legislative framework to extend free GP care to all primary school children is a significant milestone.
“It is a key step towards ensuring cost is no longer a barrier to accessing the appropriate healthcare when and where children require it.
“Likewise, the welcome increase in the medical card income limits is another important measure to support older persons in our community.
“It is estimated that up to an additional 56,000 older persons in our society could benefit from this measure, providing them with access to a range of health services at a time when their health needs are more complex and thereby improving their quality of life.”
The Bill will provide for the extension of GP care without fees to six and seven year olds in the first instance and provides the basis for further phased extension of GP care without fees to all children 12 years and under in the years ahead.
Minister Harris said the expansion of GP care without charges is an important health measure and builds towards the Government’s commitment to ensure access to GP care for all children, as well as the Sláintecare Implementation Plan for universal access to healthcare.
