The joint EU-IMF bailout programme for Ireland has reiterated the recent pledge to lift restrictions on GPs being allowed work in the medical card scheme.

The four-year plan published last week promised to lift these restrictions on entry to the scheme in order to increase both competition and the number of GPs available to medical card patients.

However, the EU/IMF plan appears to go one step further in stating there should also be an elimination of restrictions on the number of GPs qualifying.

At present, those wishing to become GPs must, after getting their basic qualification at medical school, spend four years on a training programme. Recently, the number of places on GP training programmes was increased.

However, the EU/IMF plan does not clarify whether it means there should be more places available on postgraduate training schemes, or whether anyone who has a medical degree can practise as a GP.

The bailout programme also recommends a removal of restrictions on advertising. Many of these restrictions were removed last year by the Medical Council, although the bailout plan does not indicate whether these new rules, which allow doctors to publicise their services and prices, should now be given legal effect.

On the pharmacy profession, the bailout plan stresses that the recent elimination of the 50% mark-up paid to pharmacists for medicines under State drug schemes should be enforced.

While the reduction in this mark-up only applies to drugs on State schemes, some pharmacists have been implementing a 50% mark-up in respect of private prescriptions.

Following a recent reduction in the cost of many off-patent drugs, prices charged by some pharmacists for drugs following the price cut were still higher than than recommended rates quoted by the Department of Health and HSE

This is because some pharmacists were charging a 50%, rather than a 20% mark-up included in the price guidelines. Both the pharmaceutical industry body and Health Minister Harney have said that a 50% mark-up is unwarranted.

However, the Irish Pharmacy Union says is up to individual pharmacists to determine what they charge private patients for any transaction.