asked the Minister for Health when he intends to provide that, in the assessment of means for medical card purposes, the income of members of the household other than the spouse will not be taken into account.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Cards.
8.
I intend to make regulations under section 45 (3) of the Health Act, 1970, which will specify income standards for full eligibility for health services. In calculating a person's income for the purposes of these regulations the income of the person's spouse (if any) will be taken into consideration but not the income of other members of the household. I intend to bring these regulations into operation on 1st October next.
Would the Minister consider, in view of the statement just made, advising those who are at present administering the issuing of health cards that they could relax to the point which he has just mentioned in order to prevent the practice which is at present in operation that the income of all members of the family is taken into consideration?
I could not take any such action. I am trying to get the regulations through as quickly as possible and I want to avoid an undue burden on the ratepayers and taxpayers on the one hand and injustice to other people, on the other. I am aware that there are anomalies and if I start giving temporary directions to chief executive officers who, incidentally, under the law have the power, and not myself, of dealing with these matters, I would merely confuse this issue. The Deputy knows that I have no power under the law to give them any directions whatever.
I did not suggest directions. Would the Minister not agree or is he aware that there has been a considerable tightening up on the issue of health cards and people who are now having health cards withdrawn will be reissued with them after October? Would the Minister not agree that that is a ridiculous situation?
That will depend on the standards that are proposed.
Question No. 9.
(Cavan): Do I understand that the Minister will bring in these regulations in regard to health cards on 1st October next but that he will not bring the regulations in relation to disabled persons' allowances into operation until 1st April, 1972?
That is right.
(Cavan): The others are equally deserving and in many cases much more deserving.
It is a question of priorities. If the Deputy looks at the figure for what disablement allowances were, say, five years ago and now and then takes the increase and allows for the cost of living he will find there has been a very substantial net increase in the value of these allowances after making full allowance for the increase in the cost of living. If the Deputy likes to ask me a question about it I shall give him a reply giving the figures.
9.
asked the Minister for Health whether he will arrange with the regional health boards to allow medical card holders to get, in the dispensary nearest to them, drugs and medicines which have been prescribed by specialists and doctors other than their own district medical officer.
A district medical officer is not obliged to issue drugs and medicines on the prescription of another medical practitioner and therefore it would not in all cases be feasible to make the arrangement suggested by the Deputy.
If a medical card holder has difficulty in obtaining medicines and drugs prescribed for him by a medical practitioner other than his district medical officer he should contact the local office of the Health Board which will try to make an appropriate arrangement to provide the drugs.