The delay in providing medical care has pushed the Health Minster James Reilly to call for improvement in the issue of medical cards. It has been informed that because of the delay in the issuing of the medical cards as many as 100 patients were not able to get their medications prescribed.

The delay has no doubt hindered the treatment of the patients. In the past, many medical professionals conducted strike to show their agitation against the delay in the issue of medical cards. About thousands of GPs did take part in the strike.

Yesterday, the Public Accounts Committee raised a number of questions to the government regarding the delay. While answering the questions, Paddy Burke from the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service apologized to the masses for the delay.

It has been informed that about 500,000 applications for medical cards have been processed. However, about 4,000 delays were recorded. It has further been informed that wrong information filed by the applicants has further added delay as the applicants were sent for corrections.

Meanwhile, Master of Rotunda has raised concerns over the baby boom. It is believed that in the coming time, there would be a shortage of midwives in the maternity wards. Dr. Sam Coulter Smith of Rotunda hospital said, "Every woman in 2012 Ireland should be entitled to one-to-one care for the duration of her labour and that's a real challenge. When we have multiple emergencies, we really are significantly stretched".

It has been reported that the waiting period in the maternity ward has increased which is affecting the quality of care. The performance of the maternity ward is at stake as a shortage of midwives has already begun to experience. Women are being encouraged to take up the job of midwives and help the health sector in overcoming the shortage of midwives.