Cards ‘to be issued on medical grounds’

In an apparent policy U-turn, the HSE is to establish an expert panel to examine a range of medical conditions that should be considered when issuing medical cards.   The Cabinet Committee on Health met this morning (Thursday, May 29) and decided to “develop the policy framework governing eligibility in a manner that will also take account of medical conditions”. This process will include the development of a new legislative framework as necessary. In light of this decision, the HSE Director General will now suspend reviews of medical cards where discretion had been exercised to take account of medical circumstances.…