The Government’s new prescription charge for each item prescribed to Medical Card holders will hit the sickest and poorest of older people the hardest, Age Action has warned.

The older people’s charity is disappointed that the legislation to create the charge was rushed through the Dail last night and the debate guillotined by the Government in one of the last acts before it adjourned for a 12 week summer break.

“This is a tax which specifically hits the sick and the poor – its impact will not be felt by those who have good health or decent incomes,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said.

If the Government was earnest about trying to reduce the amount of medication prescribed to Medical Card holders it should have worked with doctors and pharmacists, and encouraged them to enquire what items on a prescription the patient may already have stocks of, Age Action noted.

“Instead, by imposing a 50 cent per item charge, people who are vulnerable will be expected to pick through a prescription or face the charge,” Mr Timmins said. “In reality, this is more likely to swell Government coffers rather than reduce the amount of medication prescribed. It is an unfair measure which will hurt some of the most vulnerable in our society.”

The €10 per family per month cap on the charge was welcomed by Age Action. However, it noted that this measure provided least benefit to older people living alone, who already found the cost of living higher because of their lone status.

Source: www.ageaction.ie