Laois / Offaly Sinn Féin TD, Brian Stanley has called on the coalition Government to deliver on the budget day announcement on GP medical cards.
The Finance Minister, Michael McGrath announced on Budget day, that all those on the median income, i.e. €46,000 or below, would be entitled to a GP medical card.
This was supposed to be in place by now but to date ‘no progress has been made,’ Deputy Stanley has said.
He said: “It was announced as part of the reform of Health Service and while not a full medical card, it would never the less be a long overdue step in the right direction. The failure of Government to progress this is very disappointing.
“Too many low paid workers and families are without any medical cover, either by way of a medical card or Private Health Insurance. Private cover is just not affordable for them.
“This leads to situations where many of them put off going to their Doctor and going without necessary medication’’
Addressing Leo Varadkar in the Dáil, Deputy Stanley said:
“I ask the Taoiseach about the promise made on budget day with regard to medical cards for those on the median income or below.
“As I understand it, such a measure would bring nearly 400,000 people into the medical card scheme, albeit for GP visits only. As I understand it, this was to be in place before June. The reply I got to a recent parliamentary question raises questions as to where it is at the moment.
“With regard to discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, there has been little sign of progress.
“We all agree that this is a necessary step on the way to building a national health system and implementing the Sláintecare report.
“Is progress on it faltering? Is it stop-start? What stage is it at? Has the process run into a blockage with the IMO?
In response, An Taoiseach said: “As the Deputy will know, we have extended free GP care without fees to everyone under six, everyone over 70 and people in receipt of carer’s allowance as well as people who qualify under the means test.
“The next step is six- and seven-year-olds and people who earn less than the median income. That is a very large number of people, hundreds of thousands.
“Negotiations are under way with the Irish Medical Organisation, which has raised legitimate concerns with regard to the capacity of GPs to deal with increased attendances, which will arise, and adequate compensation for the loss of private income.
“We need to get this right. We certainly still intend to get it done this year,” he concluded.
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