asked the Minister for Health if medical cards held by pensioners and widows have been taken up for review; and, if so, if he will ensure their speedy return so as not to inflict undue hardship on the holders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards.
15.
I assume the Deputy's question relates to medical card holders who are in receipt of non-contributory old age and widows' pensions. Medical cards for those are not taken up for review but continuing eligibility may be checked periodically without taking up the card.
In the Eastern Health Board area medical cards for such old age pensioners are not reviewed regularly but are issued on a long-term basis, covering a number of years.
Can the Minister say if there is any truth in the reports which have been circulating in some papers that owners of those cards were being asked in many instances to fill up complicated forms which many of them were incapable of filling and that, in the event of their not filling those forms, the cards were being held from them indefinitely?
If the card is coming towards the end of its period of validity the holder of that card would be issued with a form some time before the expiration of its validity and asked to complete the form, but the card would not be taken up pending the completion of the form. If the Deputy suggests some of these forms are too complicated, that is something I will certainly take note of because in all these areas we are endeavouring to simplify these forms to the greatest possible extent.
I appreciate the Minister's assurance about trying to simplify these cards, but can he give us a definite assurance that there is no undue delay or no hardship suffered by those people?
I would certainly hope so. As I say, the card should not be taken up when the case is being reviewed. It is only if it is decided to remove the card that it would be taken up.
16.
asked the Minister for Health the number of people with medical cards classified as receiving institutional assistance; and the amount they have been required to contribute in each of the last three years.
The information requested by the Deputy is not available from the health boards. While persons receiving institutional assistance under section 54 of the Health Act, 1953 would normally be eligible for medical cards they do not always continue to hold such cards while receiving such assistance as necessary medical services are provided in most of the institutions.
The total numbers who received institutional assistance in each of the last three years were: 1975—21,215; 1976—21,625; 1977—19,754. The amounts contributed by such persons towards the cost of their maintenance were: 1975—£3,676,729; 1976 —£4,742,711; 1977—£5,297,144. The contributions are made from the person's income—generally old age pensions—and they are normally allowed to retain about £3 or £4 a week for their personal use.
Is the Minister aware that a very arbitrary distinction is made between medical and nursing care in many of these cases? Would he not consider that this matter should be reviewed in the interests of the patients? I want to ask the Ceann Comhairle is a nod registered in the Official Report?
The answer is "Yes".
This is important. I looked for a previous nod by the Minister and it was not registered.
It goes in conjunction with kicking to touch.
Because the Deputy and I agree on so many things I am inclined to adopt this informal and casual attitude towards him. The answer is in the affirmative. A nod is as good as you know what.
17.
asked the Minister for Health if he can give any estimate of the number of people covered by medical cards under the new revised guidelines for eligibility; and the percentage of the population this number represents.
The latest figures available relate to the position on 30 September 1977 when 1,226,787 persons, representing 38.4 per cent of the population were covered by medical cards. The guidelines which came into effect on 1 January 1978 represented an up-dating of the earlier guidelines by reference to changes in the cost of living and should have little or no effect on the numbers covered by medical cards.
Am I right in assuming that a new directive has issued from the Minister's Department to review all medical cards and that in borderline cases cards have been taken from previous medical card holders?
That is not correct. No such directive has been issued by my Department.
Is the Minister aware of the imbalance in the distribution of these cards between one county and another?
That is a separate question.
It arises from the Minister's reply.
It does not arise.
A smaller percentage of people in Dublin qualify for medical cards under the present rules. Would the Minister look into the matter and see if there is good reason for it?
Question No. 18.