FULL-time students will now be able to visit their GP free of charge as part of a new scheme launched by the Social Security Minister yesterday.
The initiative, funded through the Health Insurance Fund, covers standard consultation fees for students at local secondary schools, Highlands College and those registered with Student Finance.
It means that students can now access free face-to-face or remote consultations with medical professionals in Jersey.
The change follows an amendment approved by the States Assembly in December, which extended free GP appointments for children through to full-time students.
Following the announcement of the scheme, Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham said: “I am pleased that we have delivered on this States Assembly commitment, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Carina Alves for bringing the original proposition.
“Reducing GP fees is a government priority, helping to ease financial pressures on households.
“It is important that we continue to improve access to primary care services and expand this to include students.”
The cost of GP appointments was reduced by £10 earlier this year, with Islanders receiving an overall subsidy of £50.28 towards their appointments.
At the time, Deputy Feltham said the move would help to encourage Islanders to seek early intervention for health issues or concerns to prevent strains on the health system further down the line.
Reducing the cost of GP fees was one of the government’s priorities identified in the Common Strategic Policy published in April.
