There’s been widespread criticism from opposition parties of a government plan to charge medical card holders for their prescriptions.

The Minister for Health said yesterday that the proposal to charge people with medical cards charged about 50 cent per prescription was being considered for the budget.

Mary Harney claims the move would save money and would stop over-prescribing of medication.

But Eamon Timmins from the group Age Action said this is not the way to tackle the excessive use of medication.