Sir, - As a retired person and senior citizen, I was very pleased and encouraged recently when Mr McCreevy announced in his Budget that the medical card system would be extended to those who had reached the ripe old age of 70 years, and better still on a non-means basis. When one considers the huge amount of income tax and personal health insurance paid during the working life of a citizen, whether on very high or very low incomes, it is only socially just to assist these citizens when they get older and require additional medical insurance and care, due to the higher incidence of illness associated with the ageing process.
I was very surprised indeed to discover that a certain number of general practitioners did not approve of the proposed new system for medical cards, particularly without means-testing, as they were concerned that without means-testing, what they term "wealthy retirees" would get into the system, but they failed to admit that the so-called "wealthy retirees" had contributed huge income-tax payments during their working lives.
It is surprising that a certain amount of GPs have spoken in such negative terms about the introduction of such a very worthwhile system. Do the same people object to senior citizens receiving the "free travel pass"? The old proverb would be very appropriate: "Who so diggith the pit shall fall therein". - Yours, etc.,
Pat Fitzgerald, Newtown, Waterford.