Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 3

Written Answers - Spinal Injuries Classification.

Liz McManus

Question:

169 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that spinal injuries are recognised as a long term illness because of the expenses involved in being paralysed and in view of the fact that at present people who are suffering from an illness which reduces their chances of taking up employment are not so classified.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The long-term illness scheme entitles persons who suffer from certain specified illnesses to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of these particular illnesses. I have no plans to extend the number of illnesses covered by the scheme having regard to the extent to which the needs of people with exceptional medical expenses are met by other schemes.

Where an individual or a family is subjected to a significant level of on-going expenditure on medical expenses (general practitioner fees, prescribed drugs etc.) due to a long term medical condition such as spinal injury, these expenses may be reckoned in determining eligibility for a medical card. In some cases a medical card may issue to a family member on a personal basis. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant Health Board to decide.

Persons who suffer from an on-going medical condition can avail of the drug cost subsidisation scheme which caters for people who do not have a medical card or long term illness book and are certified as having a long term medical condition with a regular and on-going requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines in excess of an amount per month, currently £32. Persons who qualify for inclusion in this scheme will not have to spend more than £32 in any month on prescribed medication.

Under the drugs refund scheme, which covers expenditure by the whole family, any prescribed medication above £90 for use in a calendar quarter is refunded by the health board.