Medical card reform plans ‘only a plaster’ (with case study)

Cancer patients have criticised the Government’s high-profile medical card system reform plan, warning the changes have failed to change the focus on an applicant’s income, have left people in the dark and effectively allow the Coalition to "put a plaster over a wound that needs urgent surgical attention".

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) made the claim last night, despite a cautious welcome to the long-awaited plans by a number of other groups.

Under plans announced by Health Minister Leo Varadkar, terminally-ill people will no longer be forced to undergo a review in order to keep their cards.