Cancer patients urge government to grant universal medical cards and drop parking fees

Aoife Murphy, a mother of three from Portarlington, Co Laois, says her breast-cancer diagnosis in January 2025 forced her to abandon plans for a house deposit as hospital, consultant and parking costs piled up. Miriam Hilliard, a 68-year-old from Listowel, Co Kerry, faces similar daily travel expenses to the Mater Hospital and was denied a medical card. The Irish Cancer Society reports that patients lose an average of €16,200 in income while undergoing treatment, with monthly outlays for medication, wigs and travel often exceeding €400.

Research commissioned by the charity found that one-third of patients saw heating bills rise and three-fifths experienced financial hardship. Chief executive Nikki Gallagher is pressing the government to grant automatic medical cards to all cancer sufferers and to lower the drug-payment threshold from €80 to €40 before the October 6 budget. The society also highlighted a study on energy hardship among terminal-ill patients, noting poor home insulation and low awareness of support schemes.