Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for taking this matter. A medical card has been issued to the patient in question since I submitted the matter but it is only right to allow this debate continue because the lady in question is representative of many people who have had a medical card withdrawn, particularly patients suffering with cancer. I have all the figures so I know nearly 2 million people qualify for the general medical services scheme and the Department must prioritise its scarce funding. I appreciate that and we all know that funding is currently scarce. There were changes introduced nonetheless, such as income assessment and elimination of travel expenses.

The withdrawal of a discretionary medical card from a cancer sufferer is wrong. The lady I am talking about was terminally ill and had her card withdrawn. The Minister of State will know that a person diagnosed with cancer will be worried, anxious, frightened and vulnerable. He or she should not have the added worry of wondering whether he or she can afford medical care. The lady's family went to collect her medication because she was unable to do so but were informed they could not have it because the card had been cancelled. It was harsh and cruel to do that to somebody at that stage of her illness. It was despicable.

I hope the Minister of State will tell me tonight that cancer patients will be looked after. I do not want him to say that if a person is terminally ill he or she will get a card. As someone else said last week, receipt of a medical card is like a death certificate because it confirms that one is terminally ill. I want to hear his response and will comment further at that stage.