Vol. 503 No. 5
44 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the policy principles underlying a long-term illness card which result in the consistent refusal of his Department to grant cover under this scheme to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. [10559/99]
The Health Act, 1970 provided at Section 59(3) that a health board may make arrangements for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines or medical and surgical appliances to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature. There are 15 specified illnesses covered under the long-term illness scheme and since 1975, the scheme has not been extended and there are no plans to change the scheme or 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.
Persons suffering from an ongoing medical condition can avail of the drug cost subsidisation scheme which 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 ongoing 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. With effect from 1 July 1999, the existing drug cost subsidisation and drug refund schemes will be merged into one new drug payment scheme with a threshold of £42 per month per family unit or individual.
