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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 1

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Seán Haughey

Question:

139 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health the role, if any, his Department can play in granting a medical card to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3, who has been refused a medical card by the Eastern Health Board on appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24573/96]

Limerick East): Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants.

I have had inquiries made of the Eastern Health Board concerning this case and have been assured that the application has been reviewed on hardship grounds. However, as the person's income was substantially over the standard income guidelines used to assist in determining eligibility, the health board considered that the applicant would not be entitled to a medical card on hardship grounds. Should the circumstances of the applicant change, a fresh application would be treated in a sympathetic manner by the health board.
It is open to all persons to apply to the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship. I am satisfied that the health boards give sympathetic consideration to such applications when the circumstances warrant it.
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