Independent TD says HSE targeting medical card holders

A claim by Independent TD Seamus Healy that the HSE is targeting medical card holders has been denied by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.

Mr Healy asked when the Government would stop “terrorising the sick and the elderly’’ across the country.

“The Government’s austerity budget of this year has targeted the withdrawal of 40,000 existing medical cards from the sick and elderly,’’ said Mr Healy. “That policy is being implemented on the Government’s behalf by the HSE.’’

He added that the issuing of discretionary medical cards to people requiring urgent or ongoing medical treatment had stopped. These included people suffering from cancer and motor neuron disease.

He said it was not possible for him to overstate the fact that the sick and elderly were traumatised and in daily fear of losing their medical cards.

The postman or postwoman, who had always been a welcome sight for the elderly, was now a source of anxiety in case the envelope contained a threat to withdraw a medical card.

“Let us be clear what is happening,’’ said Mr Healy.

“The sick and elderly are being targeted by the Government to pay banks and bondholders and to protect the 10,000 top earners in this country who earn an average €595,000 per year.’’

Mr Gilmore said there were more people today with medical cards than at any time in the State’s history. It had always been the case that medical cards were reviewed upon renewal.

“The Government’s approach is that medical card applications should be looked at sympathetically,’’ he added.