100,000 less people have free healthcare

THE number of people with access to free medical care has dropped by almost 100,000 since the Coalition came to power.

The situation was branded a “disgrace” yesterday by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), which called on the Government to deliver on its 2001 election pledge to make 200,000 extra people eligible.

IMO GP Committee chairman Dr Martin Daly said because of the low income threshold necessary to qualify for a medical card, many patients were being forced into the black economy.