More people over 70 will lose their medical cards and prescription charges will again be increased in today's Budget.

While the Government will formally announce the much-leaked plan to provide GP visit cards to all children five and under, at a cost of €40 million, a number of severe health cutback measures are also expected in the Budget.

The prescription charge for medical card patients is expected to increase to €2.50 from €1.50.

The charge was set at 50 cents when it was introduced by previous Health Minister Mary Harney, and her successor, James Reilly, initially promised to abolish it.

The Government will also take medical cards away from thousands of over 70s on higher incomes by raising the eligibility thresholds again. Those who lose full medical cards will be entitled to GP visit cards.

The elderly will also be hit in today's Budget by the removal of of their phone allowances.

The granting of free GP care for children five and under has already been criticised by the IMO, which has branded it a 'political stunt'.

The doctors' union said cards would be granted to the children of wealthy people while many chronically ill and other people in real need were being denied free GP care.

With as many as one in 10 pensioners now expected to have their medical cards downgraded to a GP visit card only, therefore having to pay for medicines themselves, the move may provoke a stong reaction from the powerful 'grey' lobby.

However, the Government would expect any public anger about the over 70s medical card move to be offset by the granting of free GP care to young children.

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