Drop since 2020 in medical card scheme dentists

Just 866 dentists are enrolled in Ireland’s medical card scheme, new figures show, a drop of more than 1,350 since 2020—down about 35%. The data were obtained by Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, who raised concerns about participation. Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Dr Bridget Harrington-Barry, president of the Irish Dental Association, said there is no single cause, pointing instead to sustainability pressures on dentists. She criticized the scheme for being increasingly budget-led after unilateral HSE cuts in 2010, arguing it limits what patients can receive while leaving clinical needs misaligned with annual entitlements. She said no talks are currently scheduled with the Department of Health despite waiting years.