asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards issued by the Southern Health Board in (a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988 and (d) to date in 1989.
Written Answers. - Medical Cards.
234.
I have been supplied with the following statistics by the Southern Health Board. The statistics refer to the number of medical cards issued by the Southern Health Board each year, from 1986 to date.
|
Year |
Number of medical cards issued |
Number covered by medical card |
|
(a) 1986 |
67,640 |
198,936 |
|
(b) 1987 |
58,445 |
199,993 |
|
(c) 1988 |
55,187 |
181,887 |
|
(d) 1989 (as of (31/10/1989) |
48,538 |
179,605 |
The drop in the numbers covered by medical cards in the Southern Health Board area between the years 1987 and 1989 is largely due to the removal of invalid medical cards (for example, those that are no longer eligible or have left the Southern Health Board area or have died) from the records of all health boards in preparation for the implementation of the new GMS contract.