asked the Minister for Health if he will give instructions to each health authority in the State to issue forthwith medical cards to all old age pensioners in their areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards for Old Age Pensioners.
5.
I presume that the Deputy has in mind the recipients of non-contributory old age pensions.
While the determination of eligibility for general medical services is entirely a question for the appropriate health authorities and I have no statutory authority to give instructions that general medical services cards should be issued to all old age pensioners, my Department has suggested to all health authorities that recipients of full non-contributory old age pensions and their spouses and the recipients of widows non-contributory pensions should automatically, on application, be regarded as entitled to services under Section 14 of the Health Act, 1953.
I understand that, in general, health authorities regard the recipients of non-contributory Old Age or Widows pensions and their dependants as eligible for general medical services cards. From inquiries made into cases where such persons were regarded as ineligible for medical cards, it is normally because the pensioners are residing with sons or daughters whose financial circumstances are such that they could, without hardship, pay for general practitioner treatment and who would not themselves seek the services of the District Medical Officer, as such.
Would the Minister not agree that a person who has undergone a means test for an old age pension should be entitled automatically to a medical service card?
No. I am not compelled to express agreement in a matter of that sort and, indeed, I have no authority to lay down a directive in this regard. As the Deputy understands, the issue of medical cards is a function which is reserved to the local authorities. We are bound to take into consideration, in equity, all the circumstances relating to the particular application. If an applicant quite obviously is living with a well-off family, then his sons and daughters should contribute to any medical attention necessary.
Would the Minister not say the same in respect of the old age pensioner and would he not be prepared now to go as far as the Minister for Finance went when on one occasion he answered a similar question on behalf of the Minister for Health and said, and rightly so, that in his opinion the old age pensioner should automatically receive the medical service card? Would the Minister also indicate when the communication to which he referred was sent to the local authority?
Many years ago.
Would the Minister be good enough to consider the issuing of a similar circular now?
No. I cannot keep on prodding the local authorities to formulate a certain policy in regard to these matters. Once a suggestion is made to the local authorities I assume that notice will be taken of it and, if they can in their own discretion comply with it, that they will do so. Apart from that, there is no analogy between what happens under the social assistance code and what happens under the health service. For sociological reasons it was decided that the transfer of property, particularly of a farm, from an elderly person to a younger member of the family who could work it should be encouraged. That does not mean we are going as far as to determine that what is good enough for the son or daughter to whom the farm is transferred is too good for his father or mother.
I appreciate that the Minister cannot direct the local authority but surely he will be forced to admit that if an old age pensioner has to be subjected to what is regarded as a fairly strict means test in order to qualify for the old age pension, he should not be subjected to an even stricter test when it comes to the issue of the medical service card?
A son or daughter who has acquired property in transfer from a parent should at least make certain that in regard to medical attention that parent will not be treated as an impoverished person.
All old age pensioners are not people who have had property transferred to them by their family. They are in the minority.
If that is the case the question does not arise because then they are dealt with according to the circumstances of the family. If the family is not in a position to ensure that they will have adequate medical treatment then, of course, they get the medical service card.
There has already been a means test in respect of the old age pension.
If the Deputy looks up the 1932 Act he will see the basis on which a good number of these old age pensions were awarded.