• Expresses deep concern at clamp-down on discretionary medical card – “Changing the way existing rules are applied amounts to the same thing….the HSE is being deceitful on this issue”

Friday 18th October 2013. The GP Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has launched a strong attack on the healthcare changes announced in this week’s budget.

Following an extensive discussion of the budget proposals, the Committee has unanimously condemned the Government and the Minister for Health for introducing initiatives that will:
• increase inequality in terms of healthcare,
• restrict access to medical care for the oldest and sickest
• and exacerbate chronic illnesses with the increased cost for prescription charges.

Clamp down on discretionary Medical Cards for existing users:
The IMO Committee strongly condemned what it described as a “clampdown” on the use of discretionary medical cards by the HSE. Dr. Ray Walley, Chairman of the GP Committee said: “The HSE is denying what we can all see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears. Thousands of discretionary medical cards are being withdrawn from young and old people across the country and it is causing untold misery and hardship.” He continued; “Changing the way existing rules are applied and changing the rules themselves amount to the same thing. People in dreadful situations are losing cards they have long become dependent on and it is a disgrace.”
 

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