'An attack on the elderly': Major change to blister pack rules to impact Longford patients

Longford councillors have hit out at the Minister for Health's decision to direct that OAP's should start paying for their medication blister packs. 

The change, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, means that OAP's will now have to pay between €10 and €25 euro for their medication blister packs, which were previously free. 

The topic was raised by councillor Mark Casey at the November meeting of Longford County Council where he called for the decision to be reversed. His sentiments were met with overwhelming support by his fellow councillors. 

Cllr Mark Casey proposed that a letter should be written to Minister Jennifer Carroll McNeill highlighting their concerns. "This will cause yet another form of hardship to our older people and may lead to confusion around which medication to take," he said. 

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Cllr Casey continued: "They will not be able to afford the blister packs and have to go back to using a jar which isn't right, this is an attack on elderly and vulnerable people by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, it's an absolute disgrace and Jennifer Carroll McNeill should hang her head in shame to even propose such a thing."

The seriousness of the concerns was outlined with Cllr Casey reiterating: "Its crazy stuff altogether, this change will lead to deaths and I just can't believe we have a Minister for Health that proposed this, I mean these are the people that built up this country we're talking about here". 

The topic was then put to councillors who also voiced their concerns around the decision and hit out at the Minister for Health for placing hardship on the elderly people who have been the cornerstone of the country. 

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Cllr Turlough McGovern was in full agreement saying: "I'm delighted Cllr Mark Casey brought this up today because the vulnerable are being targeted, we wouldn't be here without these people and the reversal of this decision needs to be supported". 

Cllr Martin Skelly added: "It's disgraceful and a cheap shot to save money, they have gone about it completely wrong, they are penalising the sick and elderly and I fully support Cllr Casey's motion. 

Cllr Padraig McNamara commented that there needs to be a collaborative effort to put a stop to the decision saying: "It should be reversed and there needs to be an intervention across all councils on this matter." 

Cllr Garry Murtagh, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, also made his feelings known on the subject "I want to support this motion myself."

Cllr Seamus Butler added: "I'd like to thank Mark Casey for bringing this up as it could have slipped under the radar". This is a point which was reiterated by Cllr Sean Mimnagh who said: "I didn't know about this until now but there clearly needs to be something done about this decision." 

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Cllr Kevin Hussey stated: "As someone who has been sick for a number of years and has a medication blister pack at home, I have to say I think it's a shocking decision." 

Supporting the motion, Cllr Pat O'Toole said it's something that needs to stay on the agenda of councillors. "This needs to stay on the agenda so that we can get answers."

Proposing his motion, Cllr Mark Casey concluded. "If this goes ahead then it's a massive backwards step." 

The councillors of Longford are adamant that their disapproval be noted. They agreed to send a letter to the Minister of Health seeking answers around the matter.