5,775 fewer people with medical cards

ALMOST 6,000 fewer people have medical cards now than in September last year, despite a government pledge in the meantime to increase the number of holders by 230,000.

Figures released by Health Minister Mary Harney in the Dáil show there were 1,145,331 registered medical card holders last month - a reduction of 5,775 since September.

The figures mean there are 107,054 fewer people on medical cards than at the beginning of 1997, shortly before the Government came to power. Then, some 1,252,385 people had cards.

Last November, Ms Harney, when announcing the Department of Health initiatives that would get funding in the Budget, revealed plans to increase the number of medical card holders by 230,000.

This would be done by increasing the income limits by 7.5%, which would mean 30,000 extra people qualified for full cards, and granting a new, doctor-only card to 200,000 persons.

But while the income limits rose from January 1, it was incumbent on those who found themselves newly qualifying for a medical card to apply for one. Applications have failed to reach the 30,000 level envisaged. Meanwhile, the 200,000 doctor-only cards have failed to come on stream because GPs are boycotting the scheme.

The cards were meant to enable families on low incomes but above the threshold for a full medical card to visit their GP for free, with the State meeting the cost.

The scheme was supposed to take effect from last month, but GPs boycotted it, arguing that it represented a breach of their existing medical card contract.

A spokesman for the Department of Health yesterday said discussions with the GPs in relation to the doctor-only scheme were ongoing. Meanwhile, the Health Service Executive had been sanctioned to increase the income limits for the full medical card if it felt such a move was necessary.

This would enable more people to qualify for cards, and could, therefore, bring applications closer to the 30,000 level intended.