asked the Minister for Health if he will consider waiving the claims for hospital charges against patients referred to sanatoria for investigation of, and subsequently found to be free from, tuberculosis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waiving of Sanatoria Charges.
65.
Mr. O'Malley
I am not aware that patients admitted to public wards in sanatoria for investigation of suspected tuberculosis are charged for their maintenance and treatment for the duration of the investigation, regardless of the outcome. If the Deputy will send me particulars of any case dealt with otherwise, I will have it investigated.
This is happening in every case where TB is not discovered.
Mr. O'Malley
If it has happened in any case, it is highly illegal, and I would welcome information about it from the Deputy. I have had investigations made arising from the Deputy's question, and we cannot confirm that in the circumstances referred to any charge has ever been made, at any time. Under the appropriate section of the Act, it is entirely free.
According to my information, it is not illegal once the person has not got TB. Will the Minister recommend to the health authority that they should refund the money which a number of patients have actually paid?
Mr. O'Malley
The health authority are obliged to provide free institutional treatment for all persons suffering from TB and other infectious diseases. In order to qualify for the free treatment, the person must go to the sanatorium to which he is directed by the health authority. Sometimes the case of a person who is referred to a sanatorium may require further investigation before a final diagnosis is made and in some instances the individual in question is found not to have TB. The health authority make no charge in those cases for the period prior to the diagnosis. They are compelled by the regulations to make arrangements for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, and it is accepted that for the purpose of diagnosis it may be necessary to admit a person to a sanatorium for a period. All our inquiries from the health authorities responsible for the administration of the major sanatoria confirmed that no charges are made by them in those circumstances. I would be very interested to have information to the contrary from the Deputy.
I know cases of people who went in for investigation and it turned out they did not have TB, but they got a bill from the hospital on the way out.
Mr. O'Malley
If the Deputy has information which shows that such is the fact, I will undertake to see that the people in question will be refunded what they have paid.