Medical card withdrawals
Senator Henry asks the Leader to arrange an urgent debate with the Health Minister on medical-card difficulties, especially for people with long-term illnesses and cards withdrawn prematurely.
I will not support the amendment to the Order of Business today, but I call on the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Health to come to the House to discuss the issue of medical cards because there is much concern, in particular with regard to people with long-term illnesses. I would like this to be done as soon as possible. We are all on the doorsteps and hear the stories. It is quite disturbing and very difficult to have any answers for people who find themselves in such a situation. There is also an issue with medical cards which have been taken back before their due date. I met somebody with a long-term illness who had a medical card which was due for renewal in July but it was withdrawn in March. This is very distressing for somebody with a long-term illness who all of a sudden finds this a huge financial difficulty and burden.