Cowen announces roll-back on over-70s medical cards

21/10/2008 - 10:11:04
The Irish government was today forced into an embarrassing climbdown over controversial plans to abolish automatic free health care for the over-70s.

After a threatened backbench revolt, resignations and a massive public outcry, Taoiseach Brian Cowen dramatically reversed last week’s Budget reform.

Revised proposals to quell the deepening crisis within Government ranks will now see just the wealthiest 5% of over 70s losing their right to free medical care.

Only couples with incomes of more than €73,000 and single pensioners with incomes of over €36,500 will have to pay for their health treatment.

Mr Cowen said: “I regret the fact that this caused the anxiety and the stress that it did.“

The Taoiseach, who was flanked by coalition partners Health Minister Mary Harney and Green Party leader John Gormley, had put back an official visit to China until this evening to deal with the crisis.

“We have listened carefully to the concerns expressed by our own colleagues in the Government parties and the depth of feeling expressed by those aged 70 and over and others on their behalf,” he said.

“We regret the anxiety that was caused by the failure to communicate properly the fact that over 70% of pensioners over 70 would have been completely unaffected by the original proposal.”

Meanwhile, Mr Cowen also announced plans to set up a new body to recommend ways to make savings in the health budget by reducing drug costs without affecting patient care.

He also said the Government would change the Competition Act to allow the Department of Health to negotiate with the IMO on reduced fees for GPs who treat over-70s medical-card holders.