asked the Minister for Health the provision he intends to make for the restoration of medical cards to survivors of the Stardust disaster; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Medical Card Eligibility.
557.
The only basis upon which medical cards are issued is where the chief executive officer of a health board is satisfied that a person is unable to provide general practitioner services for himself and his dependants without undue hardship. Medical cards were issued to the victims who survived the Stardust tragedy on the grounds that their medical and financial circumstances at that time rendered them eligible. The Eastern Health Board gave no commitment, and could not have given any commitment that medical cards would be retained indefinitely, irrespective of individual circumstances.
In accordance with standard procedure, when the cards issued to these persons came up for review all of the relevant circumstances, including the fact that they had been involved in the Stardust disaster, were taken into account. Where any cards were withdrawn they were only from those persons whose incomes were considerablty in excess of the national income guidelines operating at that time and having full regard to the cost of necessary medical treatment. Even where medical cards are withdrawn the persons in question continue to be eligible for free hospital treatment and to have the cost of drugs in excess of £28 prescribed for use in a calendar month refunded by the Eastern Health Board.