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Irish government 'taking medical cards from the poor'

THE new head of the Irish Pharmacy Union said yesterday that that the Republic’s government may be denying that medical cards are being withdrawn but pharmacists know better.

Kathy Maher was elected as president of the IPU at the organisation’s conference in Cavan.

Speaking after her election, she said that there was no doubt that medical cards — the Republic’s main method of subsidising medicines for the less well off — were being withdrawn widely.

She said that pharmacists have reported significant numbers of vulnerable patients distressed at the loss of their means-tested cards.

Ms Maher criticised the government’s denials.

“It’s shocking that the government is still denying what every pharmacist in the country knows — medical cards are being withdrawn on a widespread basis and vulnerable patients are suffering as a result,” she said.

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