asked the Minister for Health what percentage of persons in the middle income group now receive hospital service free of charge; and if he will state, in respect of the latest year for which figures are available, how many people were required to make some payment toward those services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Hospital Service.
91.
Information in the form requested by the Deputy is not available. The decision as to the charge, if any, to be levied on eligible patients for hospital in-patient services is taken on the basis of the patient's circumstances at that time and not on whether he is considered to be in the lower or middle income group. Of course, persons holding medical cards are entitled to these services free of charge in a public ward. I would, however, refer the Deputy to paragraph 61 of the White Paper on the Health Services and Their Further Development which quotes an estimate that no charge was made in the case of 60 per cent of the middle income group patients and that half of the remaining 40 per cent were charged 5/- a day or less.