It is not true to say that cancer sufferers would be refused a medical card unless they were terminally ill, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil this afternoon.

He said the principle underscoring medical cards, under the 1970 Health Act, provided comprehensive, free medical care to anybody who could not, without hardship, afford it.

He added that a Government decision taken “does allow for a case-by-case analysis of whatever the consequences of a diagnosis might be’’.

Mr Kenny was replying to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin who said the issue was causing huge anxiety, grief and concern across the country.

“Nowhere is this more cruelly felt than in the persistent, underhand campaign to reduce the number of discretionary medical cards that are out there,’’ Mr Martin added.

Mr Kenny said medical cards were always reviewed on an annual or biannual basis. Discretionary cards were very particular kind of cards provided for people with particular problems.