asked the Minister for Health the principal reasons why there is a variation of 41.3 per cent of the population covered by medical card between the counties of Dublin and Roscommon; if he envisages an equalisation of the percentage; and, if so, how.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Card Holders.
1.
Medical cards are issued to persons whose income is inadequate to provide general medical services for themselves and their dependants. The percentage of the population covered by medical cards is thus a function of the general level of income in an area and even when similar criteria are applied in assessing applications, it is to be expected that there will be variations in the percentages so covered in different counties.
These variations reflect differences in income levels in the counties concerned and in the circumstances I would not envisage equalisation of the percentage of medical card holders in Dublin and Roscommon.