Written answers
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Department of Health and Children
Medical Cards
8:00 pm
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 458: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in possession of medical cards in respect of 1 January 2008 and the same day in each year back to 1998; and the proportion of the population this represents in each case. [2286/08]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Details of the numbers of medical card holders are provided to my Department each month by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The table below shows the number of persons with medical cards and the proportion of the national population which this represents, on the dates requested by the Deputy.
In interpreting this information, it is necessary to take account of the fact that the HSE (and before 2005 the health boards) has undertaken a substantial programme of work in recent years to improve data quality in the General Medical Services (GMS) client database. For example, in 2003 and 2004, work carried out by the health boards led to a deletion of approximately 104,000 inappropriate entries, where, for example, there were duplicate entries for the same person, the expiry date on the card had passed, the person had moved away or was deceased. This exercise did not involve any reduction in the actual number of persons who held medical cards but rather resulted in a more accurate picture of the number of individuals in receipt of GP services under the GMS Scheme.
| Year | National Population | No. of medical card holders | Proportion of National Population with medical cards |
| 1998 (as at 1st January 1998) | 3,703,100 (Official CSO population estimate for 1998) | 1,219,852 | 32.94% |
| 1999 (as at 1st January 1999) | 3,741,600 (Official CSO population estimate for 1999) | 1,183,554 | 31.63% |
| 2000 (as at 1st January 2000) | 3,789,500 (Official CSO population estimate for 2000) | 1,164,187 | 30.72% |
| 2001 (as at 1st January 2001) | 3,847,200 (Official CSO population estimate for 2001) | 1,148,055 | 29.84% |
| 2002 (as at 1st January 2002) | 3,917,203 (2002 census population figure) | 1,199,454 | 30.62% |
| 2003 (as at 1st January 2003) | 3,978,900 (Official CSO population estimate for 2003) | 1,164,453 | 29.27% |
| 2004 (as at 1st January 2004) | 4,043,800 (Official CSO population estimate for 2004) | 1,152,908 | 28.51% |
| 2005 (as at 1st January 2005) | 4,130,700 (Official CSO population estimate for 2005) | 1,145,083 | 27.72% |
| 2006 (as at 12th January 2006) | 4,234,900 (Official CSO population estimate for 2006) | 1,155,727 | 27.29% |
| 2007 (as at 1st January 2007) | 4,239,848 (2006 Census population figure) | 1,221,695 | 28.81% |
| 2008 (as at 1st January 2008) | 4,339,000 (Official CSO population estimate for April 2007 announced on 18th December 2007) | 1,276,178 | 29.41% |
In addition, as at 1st January, 2008, 75,789 persons held a GP visit card.
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 459: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in possession of medical cards, broken down on a county basis in respect of 1 January 2008 and the same day in each year back to 1998. [2287/08]
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 460: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of women between 25 and 60, who are in possession of medical cards, broken down on a county basis in respect of 1 January 2008 or the latest date for which figures are available. [2288/08]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I propose to take Questions Nos. 459 and 460 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has the operational and funding responsibility for the granting of medical cards. It collates medical card data by county, age and gender. Therefore, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to address these matters and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.
No comments