Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 May 1996

Vol. 466 No. 1

Written Answers. - Long-Term Illness Scheme.

Hugh Byrne

Question:

88 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number of asthmatic and arthritis sufferers in Ireland; the medical problems/disabilities covered under the long-term disability benefit scheme; whether asthma and arthritis are included under this scheme; if not, the reason therefor; the plans, if any, he has to include these serious debilitating problems under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10978/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): Neither asthma nor arthritis is a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1981. Accordingly, there are no statistics available in the Department regarding the number of people with either of these conditions.

The long-term illness scheme covers the following 15 specified illnesses: mental handicap; mental illness, for persons under 16 only; phenylketonuria; cystic fibrosis; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; diabetes mellitus; diabetes insipidus; haemophilia; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; multiple sclerosis; muscular dystrophies; parkinsonism and acute leukaemia.

Persons who suffer from any of these illnesses are entitled to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of the particular illness. This scheme has not been extended since 1975 and there are no plans to extend the scheme having regard to the support which is being provided by the State through the existing range of drug schemes to those with medical expenses arising from conditions such as asthma or arthritis.

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.

Where an individual or a family is subjected to a significant level of ongoing 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 ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines. Persons who qualify for inclusion in this scheme will not have to spend more than £32 in any month on prescribed medication.

Under the drug 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.