THE NEW HEAD of the Irish Pharmacy Union has said that the government is denying that medical cards are being withdrawn, but that pharmacists disagree.

Kathy Maher, a pharmacist from Duleek in County Meath, was elected as President of the IPU at the organisation’s AGM in Cavan today.

Speaking after her election, she said that there was no doubt that medical cards were being withdrawn on a widespread basis across the country.

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

She warned in particular of the impact of losing a medical card for patients with long term illnesses such as diabetes who are extremely worried about how they are going to access essential and often lifesaving treatment such as insulin.

“The withdrawal of medical cards is compounded by unacceptable delays in processing applications for Long Term Illness schemes.”

She went on to criticise the government for “denial” on the issue.

It’s shocking that the Government is still denying what every pharmacist in the country knows – medical cards are being withdrawn on a widespread basis and vulnerable patients are suffering as a result.

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