Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Apr 1997

Vol. 477 No. 5

Written Answers. - Health Services.

Noel Ahern

Question:

122 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the extra financial assistance, if any, which is available through his Department, the health boards or other agencies to elderly people suffering from diabetic conditions or coeliac disease; if so, the income threshold applying; and the assistance available. [9899/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, Limerick East): Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on means. Under the 1970 Health Act, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants.

Income guidelines drawn up by the chief executive officers to assist in the determination of a person's eligibility are higher for persons aged 66-79 and higher again for those aged 80 and over. The guidelines for persons aged 66-79 is £96 per week for persons living alone and £83 per week for those living with family, while those for persons aged 80 and over is £100.50 per week and £86 per week. In addition, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, that person may still be awarded a medical card. 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 or special diet foods due to a long-term medical condition such as diabetes or coeliac disease, these expenses may be reckoned in determining eligibility for a medical card.

Persons suffering from diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus can avail of the long-term illness scheme which entitles persons who suffer from certain specified illnesses to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of their particular condition.

The drug cost subsidisation scheme caters for people who do not have a medical card or a long-term illness book and are certified as having a medical condition with a regular and on-going 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 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.

Persons in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance may be entitled to financial supplements for dietary needs. Application for such a supplement should be made to the community welfare officer at the local health centre.

I am satisfied that appropriate and comprehensive support is being provided by the State through the eligibility criteria currently in place and the existing range of drug schemes to those with medical expenses arising from conditions such as diabetes and coeliac disease.