By Amy Molloy
Fine Gael TD, Frank Feighan, said there are 鈥渟erious issues and concerns鈥 among employers and argued the online system is 鈥渨ide open to abuse鈥.
The Sligo-Leitrim politician raised the matter in the D谩il on Wednesday afternoon following an Irish Independent investigation earlier this week.
鈥淲hen it comes to someone鈥檚 health, it is vital that a consultation takes place between a doctor and patient,鈥 he said.
鈥淔rom a medical practitioner鈥檚 point of view, an employer鈥檚 point of view and patient safety, there are some serious issues and concerns here.鈥
Mr Feighan said he was aware that health minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, had been in touch with the Irish Medical Council about the matter and 鈥渉oped some action will be taken following the interaction鈥.
Minister MacNeill said 鈥渋t is an issue for enterprise, social protection and indeed health鈥.
鈥淭he Medical council is there to protect the public. Part of that is registering doctors and part of that is making sure they are operating to a very high standard.
鈥淚 would encourage the Medical Council to reflect on the issue that you have correctly highlighted, recognising the impact it may have on employers, particularly small businesses, and I can assure you that everyone in Government takes a strong interest in this鈥.
The Irish Independent investigation revealed how employers are having to accept digital sick certs issued without any phone or video consultations being carried out by doctors – even though the Department of Social Protection refuses them for social welfare schemes because they do not meet the standard required.
Certs are being advertised on some medical websites for between 鈧25 and 鈧45, with students and employees required to fill out an online questionnaire to allow their request to be reviewed.
When Irish Independent reporters applied to six websites for sick certs complaining of headaches and flu symptoms, three arranged a phone call with a GP. Four of the sites did not ask for proof of identification and all provided a cert within a short timeframe.
Medical professionals say that digital certification helps keep infectious people out of clinics and workplaces, and frees up scarce GP time.
While the Irish Medical Council鈥檚 guidelines do not require live interaction before a doctor signs off on a sick cert, concerns have been raised that the online system may be open to exploitation.
Certs are also being provided to Irish students and employees by doctors based in countries outside the EU, who do not appear to be registered with the Irish Medical Council. The Sick Leave Act states certs have to be signed by GPs registered to practice here.
The Irish Medical Council has been contacted for comment.