Vol. 419 No. 6
139 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if, having regard to the special financial costs imposed on asthma sufferers, he will consider allowing medical cards to children under 16 years who suffer from this illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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 and general practitioner services free of charge.
In the case where a particular child or member of a family is incurring heavy expenditure due to their asthma condition, the Chief Executive Officer may grant a medical card to cover that child or individual, rather than issuing a card to cover the whole family.
However, no group or particular illness category can automatically be granted a medical card solely due to their medical condition.
Any 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 persons who suffer from asthma and the take up in the scheme emphasises the benefits of the scheme for asthmatics in particular.
The drugs refund scheme ensures that persons with irregular expenditure on drugs and medicines are refunded the balance of their expenditure, in excess of £90 per quarter, on prescribed drugs and medicines.
These schemes ensure that the needs of all sectors of the population are being met.
