asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that, because of the harsh manner in which the means test is applied, great hardship is caused to persons in the lower income group who apply for medical cards, and if he will take steps to ensure that the position of such persons is not worsened as a result of the application of the Health Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Card Means Test.
I am not aware that in general the manner of application of the means test by local authorities in determining eligibility for services under Section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, causes great hardship. I have no statutory functions regarding the determination of eligibility by health authorities, for general medical services under Section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, but I have urged on local authorities on a number of occasions that excessive rigidity in the application of the means test should be avoided.
In particular a circular was issued from my Department on the 26th February, 1955, in which local authorities were requested not to refuse applications for medical cards, because of the automatic and rigid application of scales of means but to have regard to all the circumstances of the applicants.
Recently it came to my notice that recipients of old age pensions and widows' and orphans' non-contributory pensions were being refused medical cards on the grounds of means and I had a further circular issued to local authorities in an effort to induce a more liberal spirit in regard to such cases.