BY CATRIONA GALLEN
OVER 1,200 patients in Donegal lost possession of the full medical card last month, the highest reduction of claimants in the country.
From May to June this year the number of full medical card holders in Donegal decreased from 74,373 to 73,137, a reduction of 1,236 patients. The figures were released by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service, a sub section of the Health Service Executive.
The number of medical card holders throughout the HSE West region have fallen with Leitrim losing 391 patients and Sligo losing 386 medical card holders. The reduction in the HSE West is significant as every other county in Ireland recorded an increase in the number of card holders.
The number of people in Donegal in possession of a doctor only medical card has also been reduced from 5,099 on 1 May to 4,954 on 1 June this year, a reduction of 145 people. Every other county recorded an increase in the number of Doctor only medical card holders.
HSE refutes claims
However, the HSE have flatly denied there has been any reduction in the number of medical card holders in the county.
"The HSE strongly refutes the claim that there has been a marked reduction in the number of medical cards being issued in Co Donegal, and wishes to stress that the number of people receiving medical cards has actually increased over the past year.
"The number of eligible persons on medical cards in Donegal as of 1st June 2008 was 73,137. This represents 53.03 per cent of the total population in Donegal (147,264) as per the 2006 census, the highest percentage per head of population in the country," the statement concluded.
The reduction in medical card holders is significant in light of the downturn in the economy. Irish Medical Times journalist, Mr Ian McGuinness said: "Historically there had been a problem with ghosting in the system, which is when people died the information was not passed on to the General Medical Services which would've been responsible for a huge decline in medical card holders or when people move to another county, however that problem was addressed three years ago.
"Health Ministers attribute the reduction to the booming economy and people having more money however with the recent down turn in the economy I don't think it's plausible. There has not been a huge jobs boost for Donegal in recent months. The only logical explanation for the reduction is that the level of earnings is not increasing according with inflation. Wages have gone up in line with inflation however the earnings bracket has not gone up accordingly on the medical card," explained Mr McGuinness.
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