Medical charges 'will cost lives'
The Irish Patients Association warned planned medical charges for the most vulnerable in society will cost lives
Medical charges for the most vulnerable in society will cost lives, it has been claimed.
The Irish Patients Association (IPA) warned extra fees for medical card holders, along with nursing home bed closures, would be shocking for the 1.4 million citizens who cannot afford to pay for private care.
Stephen McMahon, chief executive, said the proposals were a matter of patient safety of the highest priority.
"The Government is ultimately accountable for the safety of the patients that will be affected by these proposed charges if they are implemented," he said.
Health Minister James Reilly is considering a range of measures including a 50 euro annual charge for medical cards and increasing the 50 cent prescription item charge. Elsewhere he is looking at closing 40 community nursing homes and asking people to pay some money towards home care.
The cuts could secure around 500 million euro worth of savings in the health budget.
When appointed as health minister, Dr Reilly had promised to abolish the prescription charge.
The IPA said there are approximately 1.67 million medical card holders in the country, including 20,000 new people signed on in the 18 months to May of this year.
Mr McMahon said the average cost of a card per patient in 2009 was 302.50 euro, adding the proposed charges for medical cards would raise 74 million euro next year.
"These charges and additional taxes on medical cards, prescription charges and access to private nursing home beds will cost lives and create a strain on the public acute hospital system that may indeed grind it to a halt with more chronically sick patients," he added. "Ireland must protect its values of social solidarity for the most vulnerable in our society."
Press Association
