Medical cards refused ‘to save money’

PATIENTS in vital need of treatment are being refused medical cards and other services as part of a drive to cut health spending, it was claimed last night.

Pharmacists and patient groups say they are being inundated with complaints over a clampdown on the issuing of medical cards and eligibility for various grants and services.

Deputy Finian McGrath, a member of the Independent Health Alliance, said it was clear health boards were trying to save money, but it was the most vulnerable who were feeling the effects.

“In front of me right now I’m looking at three cases, and they are people with severe disabilities, who face losing their medical cards or grants,” Mr McGrath said.

A spokesperson for the Irish Pharmaceutical Union also confirmed that several health boards were adopting a tighter approach to items being provided to patients under the medical card scheme.

Pharmacists have been issued with a circular from the Department of Health, which says that from April 1 they will no longer be reimbursed for “invalid” claims.

The move, which follows a series of administrative blunders in the health services, is aimed at saving around €2m.

However, Labour’s health spokesperson Liz McManus said problems would arise in regard to patients who were perfectly entitled to get medicines but whose claim was declared invalid because of shortcomings in the system.

“This is further evidence that Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy is now running the health service and that policy is being dictated by the demand to save money, rather than the medical needs of patients, who are amongst the most needy and vulnerable in Irish society,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said there was no question of an elderly person or anybody else being denied medicines if they had filled in a form incorrectly.

“It is not an attack on the most vulnerable in society. It not a measure intended to target anybody who is entitled to a medical card,” the spokesperson said.

“What the Minister was trying to do was track down and remove those people from the system who were ineligible and making invalid claims.”

But Mr McGrath said it was clear that, on a wider level, there were cutbacks when it came to issuing of medical cards and other services.

“Parents who were getting services for their children are having to scream and shout for services they might have got two or three years ago. It’s appalling. It’s distressing enough having to look after a disabled child, but it’s draining and degrading to have to fight for what you’re entitled to.”