Numbers entitled to free GP visits rise

Over 200,000 more people can visit their GP for free than in 2005, according to new figures released by the Department of Health and Children today.

Incomes have risen fast, and unemployment has been more than halved since the early 1990s, but even so, more people can now visit the GP free of charge since then Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney

The figures show that more people have medical cards now than any year since 1995.

As of February 1st, 1,280,510 people held medical cards, a rise of 135,427 compared to January 2005 when 1,145,083 citizens were entitled to them.

In addition, at the end of January 2008 a total of 76,094 people held GP visit cards.

These were introduced in 2005 to allow people on low or moderate incomes to visit their GP for free. Unlike medical cards, GP visit cards qualify users for free medical consultations but not drug costs.

The new figures show the number of people with cards is up in every region in the last two years

Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney said: "Incomes have risen fast, and unemployment has been more than halved since the early 1990s, but even so, more people can now visit the GP free of charge since then."