GMS board reports increase in medical card users

The General Medical Services Board has reported a sharp increase in the number of people using the medical card scheme last year.

The board said it paid out more than €1.27bn to doctors, pharmacists and dentists under the medical card scheme in 2002, an increase of €245m over the previous year's figures.

The board said the increased level of payments reflected Ireland's increasing and ageing population and the Government's decision to give medical cards to everyone over the age of 70.

The GMS board said a total of 2.5 million people were registered to claim health benefits under various state-funded schemes in 2002.