John Ellis
Question:50 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will include Crohns disease in the list of long-term illnesses for medical care purposes. [4721/97]
Vol. 475 No. 3
50 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Health if he will include Crohns disease in the list of long-term illnesses for medical care purposes. [4721/97]
The long-term illness scheme entitles persons who suffer from certain illnesses to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of a particular illness. This scheme has not been extended since 1975 and there are no plans to expand the number of illnesses covered by the scheme, having regard to the fact that the needs of individuals with significant or ongoing medical expenses are met by a range of other schemes which provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines.
Where an individual or a family is subjected to a significant level of ongoing expenditure on medical expenses, such as general practitioner fees or prescribed drugs due to a long-term medical condition, these expenses may be reckoned in determining eligibility for a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide.