42% of the population can see a GP for free, but there has been a lower than expected uptake of visit cards
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More than 2.2m people had a medical card or a GP visit card last year.
However, medical card numbers remain lower than predicted despite changes to income limits, new figures from the HSE show.
Overall, 42% of the population can see their GP for free, the annual report on the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme 2023 shows.
Some 1.61m people had a medical card which is an increase of 42,808 from 1.56m eligible in 2022.
This is despite the Department of Health estimating in September 2023 that “up to 215,000 people” would be newly eligible for the cards when the entry income was lowered.
GPs previously suggested the scheme is too complex and people are simply not applying even though they could be eligible.
Tadhg Crowley, chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s (IMO) GP committee, told the : “The application process is quite complicated and it is quite difficult to fill out”.
He described it as “difficult” and “quite laborious”, adding that his Kilkenny practice had to assign a secretary to help people with the forms.
By November health minister Stephen Donnelly was so concerned at the low uptake that he urged the public: “The HSE have put in place a simplified online application process which is easier and faster to complete.
"I encourage everyone to go online, find out more and apply”.
On Tuesday, Shaun Flanagan, Assistant National Director, said this is the “largest increase” in eligibility numbers since 2015.
An additional 137,500 people had one card or the other last year.
In all, the Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme (PCRS) reimbursed claims and made payments for a range of cards and services amounting to €4.7bn.
The cards were given to children aged under eight, people on lower incomes, and refugees from the war in Ukraine, the annual report of the HSE PCRS for 2023 shows.
This also included medical cards for children with Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) eligibility and children with cancer. People seeking public dental care and eye services as well as payments under the Drug Payment Scheme are also counted.
Some 1.8m people were eligible for the drugs payment scheme.
Payments to dentists came to €64.8m.
He said the figures show the impact of services provided by GPs, pharmacists and other primary care health workers in partnership with the HSE, he said:
“Our patients and services users can access more services than ever with increases in GP access and care.”
Hospital spending including an increase of over €36m for cancer drugs and treatment as well as an additional €8.2m for Multiple Sclerosis Services.
The report also shows an increase in GP developments with an additional €300,000 provided compared to 2022.