1,190 discretionary medical cards were taken away since the start of this year, is had been revealed.
The Public Accounts Committee heard that a total of 900,000 medical cards were up for review this year.
But the HSE was unable to say how many of these were of a discretionary nature.
The Government has ordered the suspension of the review of the discretionary cards, pending new legislation to offer cards on medical condition rather than the cost of medication and treatment.