This article is from page 13 of the 2006-05-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
CHILDREN covered by medical cards are not entitled to a free sick cert, it emerged this week.
A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive Mid West confirmed to The Clare People that the medical card did not cover sick certs for school or work. Many GPs waver the cost of the cert, however.
A number of Clare parents, whose children suffer from asthma or diabetes and have a medical card to cover the ongoing medical bills, say they are outraged by the situation.
One parent said she was shocked when she brought her young son to the doctor and was told she would have to pay for the cert for school.
Clare County Councillor Bill Chambers (FF), a former member of the Mid Western Health Board and now member of the HSE forum, said he had never come across this difficulty in all the years he worked with the health services.
He said he would bring the issue up at the next meeting of the HSE regional forum and ask that the situation be changed immediately.
“The school cert should come under the medical card. I feel that parents who have a medical card should get that service free of charge,” he told The Clare People .
Meanwhile at the HSE Regional Forum meeting on Tuesday last, Dr Séan Conroy informed councillors that the present General Medical Scheme contract did not cover screening programmes.
“This is, however, one of the major items being discussed as part of the present negotiations with the IMO,” he said.
Routine investigations deemed clinically necessary are free of charge. It is already agreed that women who are eligible for Breast Check, or cervical screening when they come available in their area, will receive them at no cost.