Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy well knows, that policy is the start of the phased introduction of universal free GP care as part of our policy to transition the health service to one where there is universal health cover.

In regard to the general issue of medical cards, as I said earlier, there are now more medical cards in circulation than at any time.

Second, everybody in this House, and anyone reasonable, would accept that from time to time it is necessary to review who has a medical card. I do not think anyone would justify a situation where, for example, payment is made for medical cards that are either no longer in use or where a person has passed on. I acknowledge that the way in which the review of medical cards has been conducted has caused and is causing a lot of distress, in particular to elderly people. I have talked with the Minister about it and the approach I outlined about additional care being taken in terms of the way in which reviews are conducted, and additional time being made available to people where there is a proposal to withdraw a medical card, is the route to go.

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