Vol. 494 No. 5
101 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children if it is standard procedure in hospitals to impose a surcharge on overseas patients in need of treatment; if so, the reasons for doing this; and if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined. [18972/98]
The Health Act, 1970, as amended by the 1991 Act, introduced the criteria of "ordinary residence" for determining eligibility for health services in Ireland. Health boards normally regard a person as "ordinarily resident" in Ireland if he/she satisfies the health board that it is his/her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year. Under EU regulations a person on a temporary visit to Ireland from another EU or EEA country has an entitlement to urgent necessary treatment on the same basis as residents of Ireland and certain categories of such persons have full eligibility for health services.
Where a person is deemed not to be "ordinarily resident" in Ireland and is not covered by EU regulations the hospital may apply the full economic charge for any services provided. However, in exceptional cases, a health board has the discretion to provide urgent medical treatment at a reduced charge or without charge where application of the full economic charge would cause undue hardship. I have referred the case of the person concerned to the chief executive officer of South-Eastern Health Board to have the matter investigated and have asked him to reply directly to you.
