Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. Nobody is disputing that there are issues in terms of what we as legislators decide to do regarding changes to legislation on eligibility criteria other than means, but I referred to cancer patients who are entitled to medical cards because of their means and are still waiting in excess of the 15 day turnaround period. I received a response today from Mr. Kieran Healy, head of customer services in the HSE. It is not happening.

I was able to lift the telephone in my office in September and within two days a card was issued. The woman concerned had built up a large bill in her local pharmacy and had received a large bill from the treating hospital for her chemotherapy. Pharmacists are under the illusion that medical cards are backdated, but they are not. It is something we as a Government need to tackle. The date of the initial application for social welfare payments is the date from which the card is sanctioned. I am not referring to people who do not have an entitlement to a card, but rather those who are entitled to one.

In the two cases I outlined, in a response the HSE referred to 98% turnover and stated that 90% of people have their applications completed within 15 days. I must know of the two unluckiest people in Dungarvan, County Waterford. They are just two cases of the many I could highlight to the Minister of State. We need to consider backdating the initial application date of a medical card. People who are entitled to a card and who are trying to tackle, conquer and overcome cancer should not have their burden added to because of additional financial pressures resulting from bills from hospitals and local pharmacists.

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