Vol. 415 No. 8
116 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the appeal made in December 1991 by the Asthma Society for a declaration that asthmatics will, (1) be included in the long term illness scheme within a specified timescale and (2) that the threshold for the drug cost subsidisation scheme should be reduced to £25 per month; if he will outline his response to this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The long term illness scheme covers fifteen specified illnesses and there are no plans at present to extend the scheme to include any further conditions.
The long term illness scheme, however, is only one of a number of schemes in operation which provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines for persons with ongoing medical conditions.
Persons with conditions such as asthma who in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board are unable to meet their medical expenses without undue hardship may be granted a medical card which will entitle them to the supply of all drugs and medicines without charge.
Any other person with an ongoing medical condition, such as asthma, which imposes a requirement for continuous medication, can benefit under the terms of the drug cost subsidisation scheme. This scheme limits the actual expenditure of authorised beneficiaries, on prescribed medicines, to £32 per month. This scheme is being availed of by many asthmatics and the take-up of the scheme emphasises its benefits for asthmatics in particular. There are no plans to reduce the threshold expenditure specified in this scheme.
I am satisfied that these schemes, together with the drugs refund scheme, ensure that the treatment needs of all sectors of the population and of asthmatics in particular are being met.
