In an unusual move, the HSE has recently terminated the medical card scheme contracts of two dentists in the south of the country.

The HSE told irishhealth.com that following an inspection by its dental inspectorate, it had terminated the contracts of two dentists in the HSE South area, in accordance with the provisions of the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) agreement.

Under the DTSS scheme, dentists are contracted to provide dental treatment free of charge to medical card patients.

The HSE refused to provide any further details about the reasons behind the termination of the two contracts.

It said the dentists involved did not exercise their right of appeal against the contract terminations.

The HSE added: 'as the matter remains under consideration, and with regard to due process, the HSE is precluded from providing any further details on the specific cases at this point in time'.

The section of the DTSS agreement under which the dentists can be removed from the medical card scheme deals with cases where a dentist is deemed not to have complied with the terms of the contract agreement 'or has failed to administer proper treatment' to an eligible patient.

Under this section, the HSE CEO can suspend the dentist while the matter is being investigated and any action to be taken by the HSE against the dentist concerned is being determined.

The termination of a dentist's medical card card contract is the most severe sanction that can be imposed under the DTSS agreement in these circumstances. Other sanctions include compulsory retraining, paying a fine, or issuing a warning or admonishment.

According to informed sources, the termination of a dentist's DTSS contract by the HSE is a very unusual occurrence.