Anger as medical card reforms in doubt

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is facing mounting pressure to clarify if radical medical card system reforms will still take place, after Health Minister Leo Varadkar appeared to row back on the vital plans.

Patient groups last night called for meetings with both officials and vowed to resume protesting outside the Taoiseach’s office from today, after Mr Varadkar suggested that the reforms should not take place.

Just a week after taking up the pressurised Department of Health role, Mr Varadkar sparked outrage on Friday by claiming plans to base the medical card system on someone’s health instead of their financial needs “would not be realistic”.