asked the Minister for Health the number of citizens who were entitled to, and were in possession of, a medical card on 31 March 1987, and the number who were entitled to and were in possession of a Hospital Services Card on the same date.
Written Answers. - Health Services Eligibility Statistics.
200.
In relation to medical cards the latest available figures are in respect of February, 1987. The number of persons holding medical cards at that time was 736,393. The number of persons covered by these cards was 1,333,191.
Hospital Services Cards are normally only applied for when the applicant has reason to believe that he or one of his dependants will require hospital services. A person's entitlement to free hospital consultant services may also be determined at the time of receiving such services if he or she does not possess a Hospital Services Card. Statistics are not available therefore of the number of persons in possession of this card. Some 1,700,000 persons are estimated to be entitled to the card.