Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, believes that the so called discretionary medical cards need to be rolled out to cancer sufferers, and particularly children.

Crowe said that up until recently, the granting of discretionary medical cards to children with cancer had been virtually automatic, but in recent times some parents were experiencing refusal or longs delays in appeal.

The Dublin South West representative said that parents have more than enough to worry about without the added burden of wondering how they were going to pay for expensive medication associated with tackling cancer.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“If there was a head count or poll carried out in the Oireachtas, or among the general public today, on the idea that discretionary medical cards should be given as a right to cancer sufferers and particularly children, the response would be a resounding yes.

“The government needs to listen to the strong views coming from society and make this a reality.

“The Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Health Minister James Reilly need to make this a reality.

“The Government has actually promised, in its own Programme for Government, to provide free GP care for all. Unfortunately its actions have all been in the opposite direction – it has increased the cost of primary care for people on medical cards, by increasing prescription fees, and for non-medical card holders by raising the drug payment scheme threshold.

“On top that, it has reduced the number of discretionary medical cards issued.

“The Government repeatedly points out that the overall number of medical cards, issued on the basis of income threshold, has increased in recent years.

“That is correct, but that is not an indicator of this Government’s commitment to primary care. It is but another indicator of the dismal economic failure of this and the previous Governments, in driving workers to low levels of income jobs, which allow them to qualify for a full medical card or a GP visit-only card.

“I am, on Budget Day, urging the Government and particularly Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Reilly to ensure that all children diagnosed with cancer are granted, or allowed to retain, medical cards.

“Medical card assessments need to be carried out with appropriate discretion and compassion and not simply on the basis of the very low income threshold. This is clearly a requirement where applicants have life-limiting conditions, including cancer.

“The HSE has claimed that there has been no change in criteria for discretionary medical cards but has also admitted that the number of people on discretionary medical cards has indeed decreased, as the figures cited in the motion demonstrate.

“It does not take much imagination to see the great distress all this causes to already traumatized parents of children with cancer.

“That distress for parents would be compounded by a reading of the Minister’s reply to a recent Dáil question urging him to ensure that all children with cancer get medical cards. He stated that other than on the grounds of income and ‘undue hardship’ there is no provision for the automatic granting of discretionary medical cards to children with cancer – unless they are terminally ill.

“That is a hard and cruel position.

“It is also illogical and medically highly questionable.

“In very many cases no-one can tell whether a cancer will prove terminal or not. That depends on a number of critical factors, including how the patient responds to treatment. And what parent wants to provide medical evidence that their child’s cancer is terminal in order to qualify for a discretionary medical card that is valid for six months?

“I am urging the Government to have a rethink on this issue and support the so called discretionary medical cards being rolled out to cancer sufferers and particularly children.”

ENDS