asked the Minister for Health whether he is in accord with the recommendation of the NESC that basic research is needed into the structure of the health services as a prelude to their future development.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Services.
1.
I agree that there is a need for continuing research to guide the further development of the health services. The suggestions made in the recent NESC report on "Some Major Issues in Health Policy" are a useful contribution to this process.
2.
asked the Minister for Health whether it is his intention to include all citizens in a free no-means-test general practitioner, medicine, dental and hospital scheme.
A system of the nature envisaged in the question could not possibly be sustained by our community in the foreseeable future. It is the Government's aim, in accordance with their manifesto, to provide a first class service which will secure the highest possible standard of physical and mental health for all the people and ensure that no person will be denied medical care because of inability to provide for it out of his or her own resources.
Would the Minister agree that the health services have within them a number of services based on the free no-means-test principle and that the majority if not all of them stemmed from a general principle established by Fianna Fáil legislation during the years? Would the Minister say why it is that he has now decided to depart from this general principle in relation to this most important section of the general medical services?
I do not think I have departed or am departing from any general principle. What the Deputy suggests in his question is of a most sweeping and far-reaching nature. He suggests a free no-means-test general practitioner, medicine, dental and hospital scheme. It is a question of priorities. As I said in my reply, I know that our community just could not afford now or in the foreseeable future a comprehensive scheme of that order. We just have not got the economic resources to support it.
Is that not a damning admission of failure after 50 years?
3.
asked the Minister for Health whether he is aware of the great distress caused to families by the exorbitant cost of medicines; and if he has any proposals for the ending or easement of this situation.
Persons covered by medical cards obtain their prescribed medicines free of charge. Thirty-nine per cent of the population are covered by this scheme. Persons suffering from prescribed long-term diseases and disabilities obtain medicines for the treatment of these conditions free of charge.
The great majority of the remainder of the population are eligible for a refund when the cost of medicines used in a calendar month exceeds £5.00. The maximum monthly cost to such persons will not exceed £6.50.
Cover may be obtained under the Voluntary Health Insurance Home Scheme for abnormal medical expenses occurring outside hospital, including the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines, if the cost for a single person exceeds £35 or for a married couple £50 per year. These schemes have eliminated or reduced the burden of the cost of medicines and I am not aware of widespread distress. Health boards can, and do, consider individual instances where there may be hardship and they will continue to do so.
4.
asked the Minister for Health if he will include as medicinal and therapeutic the special foods required in the treatment of coeliac disease and thereby render it eligible for assistance under the green card system.
The long term illness scheme is reviewed from time to time and coeliac disease is among the conditions considered in these reviews. While it has not been possible to include it in the prescribed list of diseases there is already assistance available to help offset the cost.
Persons with coeliac disease who are the holders of medical cards obtain prescribed gluten free products free of charge. Persons with limited eligibility may include, in claims for refund of part of their expenditure on medicines, the cost of gluten free products purchased from retail pharmacies. The great majority of persons suffering from coeliac disease would benefit from one or other of these schemes.
Would the Minister not agree that the food these people need is, in fact, therapeutic and there-fore would count as medicine and should be recouped in the ordinary way?
Gluten free products are recouped under the scheme.
It is long-term illness.
It is very much a candidate for inclusion in the list whenever it is extended.
Is the Minister reviewing that list?
Yes.