A doctor has said it is “outrageous” that taxpayers could be left out of pocket by millions of pounds over the delivery of Covid and flu jabs in the Highlands.

Ewen Pearson declared he was “gobsmacked” that the price tag for the vaccination programme model put forward by NHS Highland was reported to be up to £9 million a year, whereas local GP practices were able to provide the service for just £1.5m.

Dr Pearson argued that GP practices have demonstrated they can achieve a higher uptake of vaccinations as well as doing the work at a fraction of the cost.

He was speaking after Highland MSP Fergus Ewing said he was continuing to press Scotland’s health secretary Humza Yousaf on the issue.

Mr Ewing, the MSP for Inverness and Nairn and a former government minister, said this week: “The cost savings of using GPs will run to millions.”

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