Government wrong to propose fees for medical card holders, say Labour

15/11/2009 - 20:56:08
The Labour Party has reacted angrily this evening to a Government proposal to make medical card holders pay a charge for their prescriptions.

It follows confirmation by the Minister for Health that her Department is considering charging people with medical cards around 50 cent per item prescribed.

Mary Harney says the move would save money and prevent excessive use of medication.

However, Labour's health spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan says medical card holders should not have to shoulder the burden of public debt.

"In effect, what the Government is doing is targeting those who are most weak and are least able to take this kind of a hit," she said.