5,000 more ghost patients in medical card scam

THE full scale of the scandal surrounding doctors who claimed millions of euro to provide medical cover for deceased patients was exposed yesterday.

Another 5,000 so-called ghost patients have been uncovered in the last month, which means doctors received at least €20m in taxpayers’ money.

On top of this senior Department of Health officials estimate that doctors are still claiming medical card payments for another 2,000 elderly patients who have since died.