asked the Minister for Health if he will consider giving free treatment to all people suffering from brucellosis, irrespective of income, since large numbers of people are suffering from this disease and drugs are very costly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brucellosis Treatment.
18.
Under the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1948, health boards are obliged to make available a diagnostic and treatment service for all persons suffering from the scheduled infectious diseases, including brucellosis. The diagnostic service does not include general practitioner services but all other necessary diagnostic and treatment facilities are available.
The regulations provide that no charge may be made by health boards for such services provided by them except where the service in question is an institutional service provided in a private or semi-private ward or is otherwise of a type for which it is customary to make an extra charge.
Do I take it that anybody suffering from brucellosis, irrespective of income, is entitled to free drugs? I am sure the Minister is aware that a big number of people suffer from this disease, that it is slow to heal—in some cases it is never cured —and I am sure the Minister is aware of the cost involved in treating it. I am referring to people who do not possess health cards and are not even in the middle income group. Quite a number of people in the higher income group are suffering from this disease and I should like to know if they are entitled to free drugs?
Certain drugs, mainly tetracycline, are recognised as being specific in the treatment of brucellosis and these drugs are made available free of charge under the ID regulations to persons for whom they are prescribed, irrespective of income.
Has enough publicity been given to that fact? I am aware of quite a number of people in the higher income group who are being charged for these drugs at present. If enough publicity is not being given to this fact will the Minister see to it that it is properly publicised?
I will do that.