Judge calls for controls on medical card prescription pads

A CIRCUIT Court judge yesterday said overall control of prescription pads used by doctors in the medical card scheme (GMS) was “very loose” and suggested that improvements be made to the system.

Pads could not be accounted for when they went missing or were taken, Judge Ray Fullam heard at a sitting in Tralee, Co Kerry, which was told how two elderly ladies had been doubly prescribed in January 2009. Neither doctor knew the patients were attending the other doctor.

“Overall control of GMS pads seems to be very loose, given the evidence of this case, and it is a matter for the authorities to improve the system,” said Judge Fullam.