Nuala Fennell
Question:176 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the medical card facility to all those who are severely mentally handicapped as of right without a means test.
Written Answers. - Medical Card Facility.
All persons with a mental handicap regardless of age or means can obtain drugs and medicines necessary for their condition free of charge under the long term illness scheme. Children with a mental handicap are also entitled to the full range of hospital in-patient and outpatient services necessary for that condition free of charge, while adults, i.e. persons over the age of 16 are entitled to the full range of hospital services if they are holders of either a medical card or a hospital services card. The Deputy will be aware that the latter entitlement will be extended to all persons from 1 June next.
GP services are only available free of charge to persons covered by a medical card. However, the chief executive officers of the health boards take all the individual circumstances of each case into account in awarding a medical card. This provision ensures that nobody is denied GP services due to inability to pay and I have no proposal to change these arrangements.