James Leonard
Question:58 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Health whether he proposes to include coeliac sufferers in notifiable diseases in view of the additional cost they face. [13710/96]
Written Answers. - Notifiable Diseases.
Limerick East): The objectives of the infectious diseases legislation are to provide for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases capable of being transmitted. Coeliac diseased cannot be construed as an infectious disease within the meaning of the 1947 Health Act and cannot therefore be prescribed as a notifiable disease.
Coeliac sufferers who have a medical card are entitled to a range of coeliac foods. Non-medical card holders can avail of the drug cost subsidisation scheme and the drugs refund scheme.