New medical card will not solve problems, say SVP

THE idea that the new “doctor-only” medical card will alleviate the financial burden on those with low incomes is “total and absolute nonsense”, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) said yesterday.

This is because most of the recipients would still need prescriptions which they would have to pay for themselves, SVP vice president John Monaghan said.

Under the scheme, 200,000 people on low incomes, but above the standard medical card threshold, would be entitled to see a GP for free, with the Government meeting the cost. When announcing the scheme last November, Tanaiste Mary Harney said: “People will be able to get the advice and reassurance they need from their GP and, in many cases, no additional costs will arise.”