Think-tank recommends healthcare reforms
A Government think-tank recommended today that everyone on social welfare should be eligible for a medical card.
The Comhairle report was welcomed by both the Labour party and Sinn Féin which said it proved the most vulnerable groups in Ireland were being denied essential healthcare.
Liz McManus, Labour’s health spokesperson, said access to medical care for those on low incomes had been made more difficult for thousands of people under the current Government.
“I welcome the recommendation in the report to increase income eligibility limits and to carry out an objective assessment of the income required to meet GP and related bills,” she said.
“There is now a mountain of evidence in favour of expanding the General Medical Services scheme.”
Labour recently published a damning critique of the Government’s record on medical cards which showed that over 200,000 fewer people are now covered by the scheme than in 1997, when the Government first came to office.
Ms McManus said Health Minister Mary Harney must use the Budget to help those unable to afford basic medical care.
Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson, Caoimhghin O Caolain, said the Comhairle report was glaring evidence that the Government had failed to live up to election promises.
“The reality is that due to the Government’s failure to act, a married couple with two children who earn €260 per week are not entitled to basic health care for their children,” he said.
“I find this completely unacceptable in the booming Irish economy of 2004. I call on the Government to increase income guidelines for medical cards and to introduce medical cards for everyone in receipt of any social assistance payments.”
