Number of medical card beneficiaries in Ireland will double
DUBLIN: The duration of the scheme of issuing medical cards to those undergoing treatment for terminal illness has been extended. The medical card is available to those who are terminally ill and have a prognosis of up to 24 months.
The scheme has been approved by the Cabinet and the permanent law will come into force within a year. The Cabinet approved the implementation of the scheme for an interim period of 12 months before legislation is introduced to make it permanent.
Medical cards did not apply to terminally ill people with a prognosis of less than 12 months. But the new scheme doubles that criteria to 24 months.
Currently, some 1,800 medical cards are issued for critically ill patients. Diseases including neurology, cardiology, respiratory and oncology will be included in the new scheme.
Dr. Angie Brown of the Irish Heart Foundation said the decision will “come as a relief and comfort to many people”. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said the new scheme would be of great benefit to patients and their families. The Minister said that this will be implemented as soon as possible.
Labour TD Alan Kelly welcomed the new scheme. The new scheme is the result of a campaign by John Wall of the Irish Cancer Society over the past two years. All political parties, including Sinn Féin, have come out in support of the government’s new scheme.
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