Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for Government, the Government speaks of fairer and affordable care and extending medical cards to those with a terminal illness, but there is little to no evidence of that for a constituent of mine, Ms Madden, who has a very modest income with the Department of Education. Despite having breast cancer, which has spread, and having undergone aggressive, life-saving treatment, this lady has been refused a medical card. Her essential injections are €1,000 each and she needs a minimum of six. Bed costs, medication costs and travel costs all add to the never-ending and mounting medical bills that are simply beyond her means. Nobody in the medical card section seems capable of producing a comprehensive list of outstanding requirements, but they are absolutely capable of moving the goalposts at every given opportunity. This is causing untold stress and anxiety for a woman who is literally fighting for her life. Why is this continuing to happen to ladies like Ms Madden, and how many more people out there are in the same position?

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