Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House to take this matter, which relates to the need for the Minister for Health to set out the reason a person in County Kerry who is under review for a discretionary medical card has not had an application for a review halted in accordance with an instruction from the Minister and is not being treated in the same way as other people whose discretionary medical cards are under review. My client was selected for a review and this was under way when the decision relating to discretionary medical cards was announced. Anyone would have formed the opinion that as soon as the decision to which I refer was announced, the review of discretional medical cards would have been brought to a halt. However, the review is ongoing. The man in question telephoned approximately one hour ago to inform me that he was with his doctor earlier and discovered that his card has been cancelled. The man is paralysed from the shoulders down and confined to a wheelchair for life. As the Minister of State will appreciate, he has particular needs.

I am of the view that the person to whom this matter relates is being treated unfairly by the primary care reimbursement service, PCRS. Why is this man being treated differently from everyone else? His discretionary medical card was under review when the Government made its announcement and everyone expected the review to be brought to a halt. I contacted the offices of the PCRS and I was informed that he was up for a natural review and that this time was up. When I brought this to the attention of my client, I discovered that his card was not due to expire until May 2015. This means that his case was certainly not up for natural review. I do not know why he is being treated differently and I wait to hear from the Minister of State whether there is a reason for it. The man to whom I refer needs his medical card now.