Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
797. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of men, women and children who are wheelchair dependent and have been removed from the medical card scheme following the withdrawal of a large number of discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18965/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS), which processes all medical card applications and renewals, does not hold the statistics requested by the Deputy.
PCRS does not routinely hold data relating to a person’s medical condition. This is because the medical card scheme is a means tested scheme. Under the Health Act, 1970, as amended, the HSE awards medical cards to persons that are unable, without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their family.
The Act obliges the HSE to take account of the overall financial situation of the applicant and dependants. Therefore, a specific illness or disease is not a basis for automatically awarding a medical card.
