asked the Minister for Health the extent to which an Irish citizen who becomes ill in continental Europe is entitled to free medical and hospital treatment; if similar regulations apply to holders of British passports visiting this country; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical and Hospital Treatment.
33.
An insured worker or pensioner from Ireland who is on a short-stay visit to another country in the EEC is, together with his dependants, entitled to obtain urgent hospital and other medical services on the same terms as an insured worker in the host country. This usually means that the services can be obtained free of charge but in some cases a charge may be made. Details of the procedures which apply in the different member countries are contained in a booklet "Medical Care and the Visitor to Common Market Countries" which my Department have made available to the public.
It is important that any eligible person who intends to visit another EEC country should bring with him a document testifying to his eligibility. He may obtain this document from his local health board. It is not essential to have this document when visiting the United Kingdom.
These arrangements apply equally to eligible persons from other EEC countries, including the UK, who visit Ireland. In the case of visitors from the UK, evidence of being an insured worker or pensioner, rather than possession of a passport, is the necessary requirement to establish eligibility.
These arrangements apply to insured workers and pensioners visiting EEC countries. Other persons visiting EEC countries or any persons visiting countries outside the EEC who wish to protect themselves against the risk of sickness costs can do so by taking out sickness insurance privately.
Have UK visitors the same protection here as in other EEC countries?
They get the same treatment as is given here.
Did the Minister say that an Irish insured worker in need of medical care at family doctor level can have this free?
Urgently?
Yes, urgently. We know that people from other EEC countries coming here can have the medical card services free. Is the Minister aware that now Irish people can have them free in Europe but they cannot have them in their own country?
To be quite honest I could not answer that question now without there being a specific question put down to me.
Would the Minister agree that this is a peculiar problem?
It raises peculiar problems because the health services vary in all of the nine EEC countries.
Would the Minister agree that it is a question of an urgent nature at family doctor level?
It is in accordance with their eligibility in the country from which they come.