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.