Medicine in Ireland
At first glance, medicine in Ireland is organized rationally and thoughtfully, although in practice the situation with medical care is ambiguous. On the one hand, clinics are not experiencing problems with equipment, the qualifications of doctors are at a decent level, on the other hand, there are complaints about a limited amount of free medical services, long queues and inattention of doctors. Despite the shortcomings, Irish medicine has not exhausted its development potential - the country has well-established obstetric and pediatric care, care for the elderly and people with disabilities.
The healthcare system in Ireland
The public health insurance program in Ireland only covers emergency care and initial family doctor (GP) appointments for the 70% of the non-entitled population. The reason lies in underfunding: the health care system in Ireland is funded by a single tax, but the inflow of contributions is small, and voluntary insurance is expensive and not in mass demand. Large companies practice corporate insurance: the employer draws up VMI policies for employees; for a surcharge, family members are included in the policy.
The bulk of medical institutions are private practices; for non-privileged patients, medical care in Ireland is mostly paid. For vulnerable groups, there are medical reimbursement programs: pensioners over 70 years old and children under 6 years old are treated free of charge in Ireland, and people with low incomes are required to confirm their income level annually.
Issuing a GP Visit Card entitles you to a free visit to a therapist, a doctor's house call, basic tests, pregnancy and childbirth. In case of hospitalization, payment for medical care is subsidized, but for a place in the ward, you will have to pay from 80 EUR, while the total amount of the patient's participation in the hospital payment cannot exceed 800 EUR per year. The poorest segments of the population and refugees receive additional compensation; extended medical insurance card Medical Card includes additional free services:
- basic hardware diagnostics;
- medical care at home;
- basic dental treatment;
- services of an ophthalmologist and audiologist;
- ordering glasses and a hearing aid;
- short courses of psychotherapy.
There are also programs to support patients with serious illnesses who do not meet the income criteria of the GP Visit Card, but incur high medical costs. Officially employed foreigners with permanent residence receive preferential medical care in Ireland on the same terms as local residents; foreign citizens with temporary visas are served under commercial insurance.
Ambulance in Ireland
The municipal ambulance in Ireland (112, 999) is free for everyone, but the call must be motivated by real danger, otherwise you will have to pay about 130 EUR for the departure of the brigade. If the patient's condition is not life-threatening, it is supposed to go to the family doctor - patients with acute symptoms are accepted without waiting in line. During non-working hours, emergency medical care is provided in emergency departments of on-call hospitals; if it is difficult for the patient to move around, you can invite a doctor to the house for the evening.
How to make an appointment with a doctor in Ireland
Each private practice has its own admission rules; usually, appointments with a family doctor are booked in advance by phone or on the website. Before making an appointment with a doctor in Ireland, a foreign citizen must obtain a medical card from the municipal health service, providing personal data:
- Full name and contact phone number;
- address of permanent residence;
- unique personal identifier (PPS).
The application is accompanied by the consent of your chosen GP to include you in the number of regular customers; if you have not chosen a family doctor yourself, you are assigned to one of the registered GPs in your area. Electronic health records make it easy to make an appointment with a doctor in Ireland - no need to waste time on formal questions, as all information is entered into a digital database.
Waiting time for a doctor's appointment/consultation in Ireland
An appointment does not guarantee that a doctor's consultation in Ireland will take place at the appointed time; it is not uncommon to have to wait 2-3 hours for an appointment. Getting to a specialist is even more difficult: first you need to get a referral from a family doctor, then you are put on a queue that moves extremely slowly. Waiting for an appointment with a specialist or a planned operation for insurance is delayed up to 18 months; if you sign up for a consultation with a doctor in Ireland at your own expense or under a VHI policy, you will be admitted in the coming days.
The cost of consulting and visiting a doctor in Ireland
Medical services without insurance and benefits are expensive: the average price of a visit to a doctor in Ireland without a social card is from 60 EUR for a GP and from 150-300 EUR for a specialized specialist. Insured patients, when applying for specialized care, pay an initial fee; the average deductible for an extended VHI policy is from 100 EUR and more. In order to save money, many resort to telemedicine services: the cost of an online consultation with a doctor in Ireland is almost half the price, and the prices on the VideoDoc platform are even cheaper!
Medical prescriptions in Ireland
The cost of purchasing medicines is partially or completely covered by insurance or government co-financing programs for medical care for the poor and chronically ill. To be reimbursed, you need to get a prescription for a drug in Ireland from a family doctor, a specialist or an accredited consultant of the VideoDoc portal.
GP Visit Card and Medical Card holders receive discounted or free medicines by presenting prescriptions at pharmacies in Ireland with identification. For VHI insurance or travel policy payments, send copies of prescriptions with justifications to the operator, usually funds are received within a few weeks.
.png.webp)
.png.webp)
