asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware that wage-earners who have been refused general medical services cards are compelled to pay medical fees which average £3 per child for the vaccination of their children against polio, and that this charge imposes a very heavey burden on wage-earners who desires to have their children vaccinated against polio; and whether in view of the hardship thus caused he will, at least, arrange that the children of persons insured under the Social Welfare Acts will be provided with such vaccination service free of charge.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fees for Polio Vaccination.
I have no specific knowledge as to the charges made by medical practitioners to their private patients, but, with regard to polio vaccination in general, health authorities have been asked to adopt a flexible approach in determining the eligibility of applicants within the approved categories and to make vaccination available to persons who are unable to provide this service by their own industry or other lawful means, irrespective of whether or not they hold a medical card. This recommendation is designed to impress on health authorities that vaccination should not be withheld where there is evidence that parents or guardians would be unable by reason, for example, of illness or of the number of persons dependent on them, to provide the service without undue hardship.
Would the Minister say when that information was conveyed to local authorities and would he be willing to make a copy of the document available for the information of Deputies?
The information was conveyed on 17th of this month. I do not think it is necessary to make the document available because I have given the gist of it in my reply.
The Minister may know that many Deputies get correspondence as to the rights of persons who come under the Health Act in respect of their entitlements to this vaccination free of charge. It would be helpful if the documents were made available for the information of Deputies in dealing with such matters.
I will consider what the Deputy asks, but he should remember that this documents is addressed to the health authorities and as I said in my reply I covered the ground fairly well.
From the Minister's point of view, it would be more convenient that Deputies should have as much information in this respect as possible. It would save putting down questions to elicit the necessary information. It is not unusual to circulate a document of that kind at a Deputy's request.
It is very unusual to circulate to every member of the Oireachtas copies of correspondence which takes place between a Government Department and any person or any authority, let alone a health authority.
I did not ask for a copy of the correspondence. All I ask for is a copy of the document for members of the House who are interested in the matter and which has been circulated to health authorities. Surely if health authorities are entitled to see the document, it is not making an outrageous and unreasonable demand to ask that a member of this House also be permitted to see the document?
I gather that the member of the House has a copy of the reply which I have given to the Deputy available to him. I suggest he should deal with the correspondence addressed to him on the basis of that reply.
Would the Taoiseach try to hammer some sense into the head of the Minister for Health?
Would the Minister agree that this document has been addressed to the county managers and, if so, is a document which, in ordinary circumstances, would be made available to the actual members of local authorities?
It has been addressed to the health authorities and a copy has been addressed to the chief medical officer.
It would be available to the members of the health authorities?
Possibly.
In connection with the charges, is the Minister aware that at the moment one of the biggest purchasers of anti-polio serum has a surplus of 24,000,000 shots which may likely have to be destroyed in the near future?
That is a separate question.
And would the Minister make inquiries as to whether this would be made available to him in order to relieve the financial burden on parents?
I have not as much knowledge of these wealthy corporations as the Deputy seems to have. I do not see any reason why I should get that corporation out of its difficulties.
I will put down a question next week.