The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, today stressed the Government’s commitment to improving primary healthcare in the Republic.
He was speaking at the first meeting of the steering group to implement the national primary healthcare strategy.
The primary care steering group is charged with putting in place the new national strategy, entitled Primary Care: A New Direction..
The group is made up of representatives of the medical profession as well as voluntary groups, members of statutory bodies and users of the service. It is chaired by Professor Ivan Perry of University College, Cork.
The Minister said his department would work closely with the steering group to implement the strategy.
"The establishment of the Steering Group, with its wide representation of the many stakeholders involved, including the professions, the statutory and voluntary sectors and the clients of the services, is evidence of the Government’s commitment to a partnership approach in the implementation of the Strategy," he said.
Primary care is the first point of contact people have with the heath service. Providers of the service include GPs, public health nurses and home helps. The Government has allocated EUR5 million this year to implement the strategy.