Sir, – Dr Tony O’Sullivan could hardly be more wrong in opposing medical card treatment for the under-fives on the grounds that it is a vote-buying exercise and it benefits the well-off (October 11th). Children under five cannot vote nor can they be responsible for the wealth of their parents. It is appalling that free medical treatment for children is not yet universal in this State. Does it not occur to Dr O’Sullivan that the children in his “proud working-class area” who are mostly medical card patients are at an advantage over children in the “leafier suburbs” whose parents may be unwilling or unable for reasons unknown to the doctor to pay the €60 or whatever for each visit to the surgery?
How a society treats its children is one of the measures of its level of civilisation. When it comes to health issues the State should not seek to discriminate. – Yours, etc,
KEVIN O’SULLIVAN,
Ballyraine Park,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.