asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that there are delays of several months in the renewal of expired medical cards in the Dublin area; and if he will have steps taken to expedite the issue of cards in necessitous cases to avoid hardship to sick people and their families.
Written Answers. - Medical Card Renewals.
7.
I understand from the Dublin Health Authority that a survey of almost 300 cases completed within the last few weeks, indicates that the average time attributable to administration by the authority is three weeks in the case of successful applications. The corresponding time for unsuccessful cases, which comprise only about 30 per cent of the total, is 6 weeks because more detailed examination and inquiries are carried out to ensure that no element of hardship is overlooked before a decision is taken. The time-lag due solely to delay by the applicant in submitting certified evidence of income or other information accounts for any extra time required to complete cases.
A sample survey last October by the internal audit section of the health authority showed that three quarters of all applications for medical cards are finalised within four weeks of receipt.
To avoid any hardship, medical card holders are requested by letter to apply for renewal of their cards six weeks before the expiry date.
In cases where expensive medicines and appliances are needed and a card has expired, special procedures operate whereby these services are specifically authorised for four to eight weeks until the medical card application has been finalised.
It is also well established practice to allow medical card holders a period of grace of four to six weeks after the expiry date.
Finally, in the case of the majority of old age pensioners medical cards valid for three years are issued.