Healthcare for elderly - Medical card stalemate must end

THE hurried assurance from Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney that all over 70s will get full healthcare will be welcomed by thousands of ageing people who feared the Government was about to betray them again.

Her reiteration that a pledge given in the last Budget, offering certain patients free medical care but not drugs or medicines, would be honoured will reassure those who, according to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), would only get limited cover after 70 because of cost-saving measures.

This latest in a series of controversies to hit the beleaguered health service is bound to damage Ms Harney’s image.