Vol. 503 No. 5
82 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason an allergist is only available to private patients and is not available through the medical card system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10601/99]
Under the general medical services scheme, a wide-ranging treatment and curative service for medical card holders is provided by contracted general practitioners only. In that context, the treatment of allergies, like any other condition, comes within the remit of the scheme and is treated in accordance with the clinical needs of the patient. The GMS scheme does not extend to services provided by practitioners of alternative medicine.
