The Medical Council plans to increase doctors’ annual retention fees due to serious concerns about its financial sustainability, the Medical Independent (MI) understands.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health told MI: “[In May], the Medical Council met with the Department of Health to discuss a potential increase in the annual retention fees for doctors, effective from 2026 onwards. Engagement on this issue is ongoing.”
The Council’s income is largely generated by doctors’ registration/retention fees. Its authority to collect fees is derived from statute.
On 16 April, Council management raised the issue of fees during a governance meeting with the Department. The Council planned to submit an external financial review as part of these discussions, according to minutes obtained under Freedom of Information law.
The Council also indicated it was “looking to reduce” applications made under section 60 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007, “through the use of less expensive options that have the same effect.” Under section 60, the Council can apply for a High Court order to immediately suspend a doctor’s registration in the interests of public safety. Eleven applications were made in 2023.
In 2023, the Council recorded an operating deficit of over €3.8 million. However, it carried forward a balance of over €38 million as of 31 December 2023. In 2024, the operating deficit was €1.4 million, while a deficit is also projected for 2025, according to the Council.
“There are several key drivers for increasing costs in the Medical Council,” a Council spokesperson told MI. “We have seen a significant increase in expenditure because of increased activity and a growing registrant base. The increase in doctors joining our register has resulted in increased cost of regulation.
“Additionally, there has been a significant increase in legal activity over the past four years. We have also had an increase in all expenditure in line with inflation, [and] increased expenditure for specific non-routine work required in the areas of ICT, data protection, GDPR, and registration.”
There has been no increase in fees since 2015 despite a 23 per cent rise in the Consumer Price Index, according to the spokesperson.
“As part of the development of feasible strategies available to the Medical Council to manage its financial situation, and to return to a sustainable basis in the medium to long-term, the Council has carried out analysis of all income streams, with a particular focus on fee structures and levels. The Council has provided recommendations to the Department in this regard for consideration, and engagement is ongoing with the Department.”
In the past two years the Council had implemented “several cost containment measures”.
“A key objective of our Statement of Strategy is the development of a financial strategy over the next four years which returns the organisation to financial stability. The financial strategy will look at actions for cost control and operational efficiency, with a focus on feasibility and alignment with the Council’s mandate and objectives.”
Cost containment measures “will be aligned” with the Council’s purpose of protecting the public, said the spokesperson.
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