Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The issue in regard to the inpatient charge, although related, is essentially a separate matter to the question of the discretionary allocation of medical cards on the basis of an applicant having a specific medical condition. There has never been an automatic entitlement to a medical card, even where a person is diagnosed with a debilitating and deeply stressful ailment, including cancer. The system does not provide for the automatic provision of a medical card in those circumstances. The individual concerned must submit an application. I certainly would expect any such application to be dealt with sensitively and expeditiously. If there was any sense in which that was not happening, it would give cause for concern. I reiterate, however, that there is no automatic entitlement. An application must be made and is assessed on the basis of the medical evidence. As I said, I agree that such applications ought to be expedited.

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