Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2015
20. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of progress by the group tasked with an examination of medical card issuing criteria; if the revised criteria for granting medical cards will take account of medical need; when this group will make its recommendations; when these recommendations will be acted upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7972/15]
View answerThe establishment of the Clinical Advisory Group for Medical Card Eligibility was announced by the HSE on 28 January. Its membership includes clinical experts from specialist services and professions, as well as patient representatives so that the views of patients are central to the process.
As recommended by the Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility, the Group will provide clinical oversight and guidance to the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. The Group has been asked to see how the burden of a medical illness can be accommodated in the award of a medical card, over and above financial hardship.
The Group held its first meeting on 10 February. It will provide an interim report by May of this year on the development of a framework and guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions.
Neither I, nor Minister Varadkar, wish to prejudge the outcome of the Group’s determinations. However, I can advise the Deputy that the medical card system is now operating in a more sensible and sensitive manner. Greater discretion is clearly being exercised by the HSE because the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation has increased by 52% - from about 52,000 in mid-2014 to nearly 79,000 at the end of January this year.
