IMO warns on cutting medical cards to save cash

Plans to provide free GP care to all children under five in next week’s budget should not be paid for by withdrawing medical cards from people who depend on them, doctors have warned.

The Irish Medical Organisation said obstacles are being put in the way of seriously ill people applying for medical cards, in an apparent attempt to save the health system money.

The Irish Examiner yesterday highlighted a number of cases in which people with cancer, intellectual disabilities and other chronic illnesses were being denied discretionary medical cards, despite the Taoiseach insisting there has been no change in policy.