asked the Minister for Health the percentage of the population of the State who were holders of medical cards on 28th March, 1972, and 2nd April, 1972; and the respective figures for each health board area on each of these dates.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards Holders.
5.
Statistics relating to persons covered by medical cards are normally prepared for the last day of each quarter. The figures for the 31st March, 1972, are as follows:
|
Health Board |
Percentage of population covered by medical cards on 31/3/72 |
|
Eastern Health Board |
14.2 |
|
Midland Health Board |
34.9 |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
26.9 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
29.6 |
|
North-Western Health Board |
35.8 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
39.2 |
|
Southern Health Board |
29.6 |
|
Western Health Board |
46.1 |
|
State |
27.7 |
Can the Minister give any indication as to why there has been a drop of almost 3 per cent in the number of people who hold medical cards? Is he aware that for some months past, Deputies have been alleging that fewer medical cards are being issued since the introduction of the health boards and that the health boards are not administering this section of the GMS quite as efficiently as the local authorities did?
The difference is due to the fact that, I suppose, with the knowledge of the changeover in the system the county authorities were not revising the medical cards. There has been a very considerable revision. The county is becoming more prosperous and it is quite possible that there might have been a reduction even before the health boards started. I cannot give the exact figure but there was a reduction in the numbers receiving medical cards in the four-year period before the coming into operation of the health boards. There was a reduction of between 3 per cent and 5 per cent. This reduction has not only been occasioned by the formation of the health boards. I should also like to tell the Deputy that dependants over 16 years of age have been eliminated from the register of persons covered by medical cards. Such persons have been informed that they may apply for medical cards in their own names. I cannot give the rate at which they will apply but it has some effect in relation to this reduction.
Has the Minister any evidence relating to the figures for the current quarter? Is he aware that revision of medical cards took place on 31st March, 1972, and that since this date many cards have not been renewed for people whom one would expect would qualify?
I cannot give the Deputy any information on that subject. Under the Health Act, 1970, there would naturally be some increase in the number of medical cards occasioned by the fact that there were people in the lower income group who were going to their private doctor and paying. Under the choice-of-doctor scheme now they can get free service. That would add to the number. There would be a certain number of additional medical cards to those who benefit by the provisions in the Health Act, 1970, where the income of the husband and spouse is not to be counted in relation to family. There would also be a reduction based on the fact that there had not been sufficient revisions of medical cards. If the Deputy will look at the document on the county incomes prepared by the Economic and Research Institute he will find ample evidence that there would be likely to be some diminution in the number of medical cards because of the growing incomes of the community.
I am calling Question No. 6. We cannot remain at this question all the afternoon.
Will the Minister accept that there has been an increase in the cost of living, particularly in the cost of medicines? The growing incomes of the community are an irrelevant factor.
Wages have gone up——
I must ask the Minister to deal with Question No. 6.