It has been found through a recent report that the Medical Council has warned doctors not to issue sick certificates to any patient unless and until his condition is verified.

The decision, as per the findings, has been taken in a response to the debate persisting about sick leaves as well as their adverse impacts on the society. The `Irish Business and Employers Confederation' has reported that the leaves by employees cost some _1.5 billion to the economy.

The reason behind the same is issue of sick certificates without any proper assessments of patients. It is therefore that GPs have been involved in the system to make certificates.

Joan Burton, who is the Minister for Social Protection, has put a proposal that the power to provide certification of sick leave should be taken away from family GPs. And for the same, independent medical assessors having in-depth expertise in the domain should be authorized.

Concerns have been raised on finding that doctors issue such certificates even when a person is not ill, but just wants to show the same in lieu of attending a marriage or any other casual reason.

It is being said that the new system would also remind doctors of the rules on ethics as well as those on professional conduct.