Irish doctors say elderly patients could suffer if the Government goes ahead with plans next year to provide free GP care to all children under the age of six.
The Irish College of General Practitioners, which is holding its winter meeting in Athlone today, claims it is in favour of universal health care in principal, however it fears it is not being brought in on an equitable basis.
Spokesperson for the ICGP, Dr Darack O'Caiardha, said: "One of the key concerns for us is that these measures seem to have come at the cost of those particularly over 70 and who are going to have their medical cards downgraded.
"And that's going to affect up to 150,000."
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