as people who have to pay for their visits to doctors make far fewer visits to the doctor.
Hi Bronte
That is what doctors have told me. Although it is anecdotal, it stands to reason. When people get something for free they tend to consume a lot more of it.
Brendan
He won't make any savings if GP waiting rooms are clogged up with every under 5 in the country with a runny nose.Hi Purple
It is clearly understood that the Minister is referring to savings in public expenditure.
If they stop providing medical cards to some people, he will be making savings in public expenditure.
By the way, he will be making genuine savings as well, as people who have to pay for their visits to doctors make far fewer visits to the doctor.
Brendan
He won't make any savings if GP waiting rooms are clogged up with every under 5 in the country with a runny nose.
But the key point is that limiting medical cards is a real saving for the exchequer and for everyone.
Extending them is an increase in expenditure for the exchequer and an overall increase for Society.
So how come he's extended them to all 5 year olds and under, and seemingly taken them off those who really need them?
Taking medical cards from well off over 70's is a good idea. Giving them to all under 5's is a really bad idea.
I agree. But it still makes no sense to me. Particularly the bit about taking it off people who need it, not the wealthy over 70's though. There was a horrific case in the Sunday Independant yesterday by Brendan O' Connor.
How many under 5's are there in the country. How many over 70's will lose their cards?
Agree fully.
But the key point is that limiting medical cards is a real saving for the exchequer and for everyone.
Extending them is an increase in expenditure for the exchequer and an overall increase for Society.
By the way, he will be making genuine savings as well, as people who have to pay for their visits to doctors make far fewer visits to the doctor.
Brendan
That argument not as straightforward as it seems. I understand there's plenty of evidence to say that if people delay getting medical attention (which they will do if they feel they can't afford to), when they eventually do get round to it, the cost of treatment is a lot higher. Early diagnosis and treatment is generally a lot cheaper.
See the following, for example:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2742317/
And so they should. But that does not mean their medical needs are not been treated. Patients with minor ailments should go initially to their pharmacist who can easily dispense treatment for minor ailments. For example, I can choose to pay €60 euro at my doctors for the winter flu jab or I can get it from my local pharmacy for €15. Of course if you have a medical card all things being equal you will to to the docs because it’s free. So doctors’ surgeries get filled up with patients who can be treated less expensively elsewhere but won’t as the treatment is delivered at no cost to them. Rather than having medical treatment free at point of delivery the government should charge all medical card patients say €30 a visit to the doctors. This would separate out those with non minor ailments who would pay the €30 and those with minor ailments who would go the the pharmacy as first point of call and those without any medical problems but who just visit the doctor for a chat/ re-assurance etc. because the visit is free. €30 a visit isn’t too much to ask seeing as we have some of the highest rates of social welfare and old age pensions in Europe and you could set the amount depending on the elasticity of demand for doctors’ services. You don’t need to get into a big debate on who should or should not have medical cards, and the associated administrative costs of policing this, but just introduce pricing structures that force those who abuse or misuse the system to contribute to the costs they are imposing on others.That is true
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Thats my vocublary improved for today. Thanks ang1170!!
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