Extending the medical card scheme
Dr. Browne sought medical cards for widows, people over 65, those with long-term illnesses, and people earning under £3,500, citing the Minister’s earlier support and estimated scheme costs. The Minister said no extension was planned, pointing instead to an expanded health-services scheme from April; he promised to provide cost figures later.
asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the medical card scheme to include all widows, all persons over 65, all persons suffering from long-term illness, and all persons with income of less than £3,500.
Comment on this
Is it not a fact that when speaking in the Dáil in 1974 the Minister said that the extension of the medical card system to the groups mentioned here was inevitable, unanswerable and should be automatic? What has happened to the Minister's thinking on this subject since 1974?
Comment on this
I am bringing in a very considerably expanded scheme of health services as from April next.
Comment on this
The Minister told us recently in answer to a question that the cost of a scheme of this kind would be about £8 million or £10 million and that he is collecting £30 million under the insurance scheme to be brought before the House.