Vol. 443 No. 3
87 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health his views on whether official statistics underestimate the prevalence rate of myasthenia gravis in Ireland; his views on whether lack of recognition of the disease has resulted in failure to include it on the long term illness list permitting access to free drugs for myasthenia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
There are at present no official statistics on the prevalence of myasthenia gravis, which is not a notifiable disease. I accept the need for priority to be given to the development of epidemiological data on health needs in general, and this is one of the elements of the health strategy which I published recently.
The long term illness scheme entitles persons who suffer certain specified illnesses to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of the particular illnesses and there are no plans to extend the number of illnesses covered by the scheme.
The long term illness scheme, however, is only one of a number of schemes in operation which provides assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines for persons with ongoing medical conditions.
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, 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 ongoing 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 expenditure on prescribed medication above £90 in a calendar quarter is refunded by the health board.
I am satisfied that these arrangements meet the needs of persons who incur significant expenditure on drugs and medicines.
