Noel Ahern
Question:88 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the assistance, if any, available to a person requiring a tinnitus masker; and if it qualifies under the drugs refund or drugs costs substitution card schemes. [6587/99]
Written Answers. - Drugs Refund Scheme.
Aural services and devices for patients are provided by the National Rehabilitation Board on behalf of the health boards. The NRB provides for hearing tests and the supply, fitting and repair of hearing aids to school children and adult medical card holders and their dependants. The provision of tinnitus maskers is not part of the National Rehabilitation Board service.
The community drug schemes provide for financial assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines. The provision of aural equipment, such as tinnitus maskers does not fall within the provisions of these schemes, and is not, therefore, reckonable for reimbursement.
Health boards, however, may offer assistance towards the cost of medical appliances to patients where such items are deemed to be medically essential and where a person is unable to acquire such items without undue financial hardship. Health boards consider each application individually and according to its merits.