Medical cards - Responsible fairness

Taoiseach Enda Kenny admitted in the Dáil yesterday that there are problems around the review of medical cards which has denied the privilege to many people.

Social, political and equity issues collide on this issue, as does the sustainability of a system where something around half of the country’s population depend on medical cards. This seems a very high ratio. There must be questions too around individuals with substantial resources — a farm say — getting a medical card because they generate a poor income.

No one, even the most avid free-marketeer, would deny those with a genuine need state-funded medical support. Nevertheless, our system must be reviewed as it costs too much. Need and fairness, tempered with personal responsibility, should inform the review’s conclusions, but medical cards should not be used as chits in a game of political poker.