Scotland will be the first country in the UK to abolish the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) from April 2016.
Health Secretary Shona Robison announced today that the Scottish Government has reached an agreement with the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland Scotland which will see the removal of all QOF points from the Scottish GP contract.
The new arrangements aim to significantly reduce the workload and free up time for patients.
All funding associated with the previous QOF system will transfer over to the core payment, ensuring there will be no reduction in the amount of money a practice receives.
Ms Robison said: 'Today's announcement of the removal of all QOF points from the next GP contract marks a significant shift towards placing more trust in the clinical judgement and professionalism of GPs.'
'We need new ways of working to ensure our GP and primary care systems are fit for the future. That is why we are working on a brand new contract for Scottish GPs from 2017, and will be the first in the UK to abolish QOF from April.
'That is why we’ve also committed £60 million over three years through the Primary Care Fund to test new models of delivering community care and improve the ease with which patients can access their local services,' she added.
The announcement comes as there is a debate on community health services in Scottish parliament where the health secretary has outlined her priorities for primary care over the next few years.
'Community nurses are leading care management at the moment and I want to see them doing more. That is why the chief nursing officer is working to transform community nursing roles for the evolving population,' Ms Robison said during the debate.
Dr Richard Simpson, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife said that nurses are vital in any changes in primary care. However he mentioned that there were currently around 2500 nursing vacancies in Scotland and that this needs to be addressed if there is to be any change in primary care.