Only a fraction of the 200,000 doctor-only medical cards promised by the Government some 18 months ago have been issued, latest figures show.
Data from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, which is part of the Health Service Executive (HSE), indicate some 14,651 of the cards had been issued by May 1st. Official figures for this month are not yet available but the Department of Health put the figures for the total numbers now issued at around 18,000 yesterday.
The cards, an initiative to cover GP visits only and not drug costs, were announced by Minister for Health Mary Harney in her November 2004 Estimates.
While the introduction of the cards was initially delayed as a result of a row with the Irish Medical Organisation which represents GPs, it then transpired eligibility guidelines for the cards were set too low.
Last October, the income guidelines for both full and doctor-only medical cards were increased by 20 per cent and applicants for both types of card were told they would be means-tested on the basis of their disposable income, that is their income after tax and PRSI, reasonable rent and mortgage payments, childcare expenses and travel-to-work expenses.
Again yesterday Ms Harney, in a statement, announced she was raising the income limits once more for doctor-only cards because too few people are qualifying for them.
The basic income element of the means test for these cards had been set at 25 per cent above the full medical card income guideline. This has now been increased to 50 per cent.
This means the cards should be available, for example, to a couple with two children earning about €1,200 a week or €63,400 a year after tax and PRSI; to a couple with four children earning about €1,580 a week or €82,160 a year; a single parent with one child earning about €1,000 a week or €52,000 a year; or a single person with no dependants earning about €426 a week or €22,152 a year.
"The Government wants to make it as easy as possible for people to get the new GP visit card. The card is designed to help people on moderate incomes to visit their GP free of charge," Ms Harney said. "Many people are only becoming aware that this benefit exists for them. We are still in the early days of this new card," she added.
The HSE has been asked by Ms Harney to review recent unsuccessful applications to see whether they now qualify.
Green party health spokesman John Gormley dismissed Ms Harney's latest announcement on the doctor-only cards as just another promise.
"This promise was first made in November 2004. Now almost a year and seven months later, she issues the same promise. How long will it be before these doctor-only cards are actually delivered?" he asked.
Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called on Ms Harney to provide full medical cards for all children.
He said the money the Fianna Fáil/PD Government had wasted on useless computer systems in the health services and on electronic voting machines that do not work would pay for medical cards to be extended to everyone under 18 years.