Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who qualified for a full medical card on 31 December 2008; the number of persons who qualified for such a card on 31 December 2009; the extra cost to the State of the increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6974/10]

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who qualified for a doctor only medical card on 31 December 2008; the number of persons who qualified for such a card on 31 December 2009; the extra cost to the state of the increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6975/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 60 together.

The Health Service Executive has reported to my Department that there were 1,352,120 and 1,478,560 medical card holders on 31st December 2008 and on 31st December 2009, respectively. This represents an increase of 126,440 medical card holders over that period. The Executive has also reported that there were 85,546 and 98,325 GP visit card holders on 31st December 2008 and on 31st December 2009, respectively. This represents an increase of 12,779 GPs visit card holders over the same period.

There are two main cost factors associated with medical cards and GP visit cards, firstly the capitation and other payments made to General Practitioners (GPs) and, secondly, the cost of drugs supplied to patients. GPs who hold contracts under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme with the Health Service Executive (HSE) are remunerated through a range of fees and payments, most of which were amended in the Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to General Practitioners) Regulations 2009, which came into effect on 7th July last. Included among these fees are more than 50 different capitation fees. The fees vary depending on the age and gender of the patient and the distance he or she lives from the GP's surgery. For example, fees currently range from €76.98 for a male patient under 5 years living 3 miles or less from the GP's surgery to €218.37 for a female aged 65-70 years living more than 10 miles from the surgery. In addition, there are special capitation rates of €280.31 for persons over 70 residing at home and €896.07 for persons over 70 residing in private nursing homes. There are also a range of additional payments; for example, in respect of out of hours consultations, temporary residents, special items of services (e.g. suturing), panel size, practice support allowances and locum expenses.

As regards the supply of drugs and medicines, medical card holders receive these free of charge while GP visit card holders avail of the Drugs Payment Scheme, which now involves a co-payment of the first €120 spent per family in any calendar month. Drugs costs vary significantly depending on the patient's medical condition. Estimated total expenditure in 2009 on the GMS Scheme (medical cards and GP visit cards) was approximately €1.9 billion and in 2008 the HSE expenditure on this scheme was nearly €1.786 billion.