A state body set up to fight poverty will urge more medical cards for low-income families today.
The Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) believes the measure would be the most immediate and effective way to improve health services to the less well-off.
It will outline the proposal to increase access to medical cards for those living on less than Eur209 per week at the launch of its new health policy statement at a conference at Croke Park in Dublin.
The talks will be attended by 250 health service professionals, primary care providers and community groups.
The proposal comes on the back of the agency's health programme and the findings of a new ESRI research study which will also be launched at the conference.
The CPA-commissioned study examines the use of community health services, including GPs, dentists and opticians, among the Irish population.