Jim O'Keeffe
Question:214 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people estimated to suffer from asthma; and if he will make available to them free or subsidised medical treatment and drugs. [19634/99]
Written Answers. - Medical Treatment.
As asthma is not a notifiable disease, there are no precise statistics available on the number of people with the condition. For the most serious asthmatic reactions requiring hospitalisation, data is available from the hospital in-patient inquiry – HIPE – system. The data available in respect of males and females for 1998 is set out on the attached table. These figures are based on principal diagnosis and include day cases and in-patients. It should be noted that information is not available from private hospitals and that a person attending hospital several times in a given year is counted separately in the statistics for each visit.
The drug cost subsidisation and drug refund schemes were merged into one new drug payment scheme with a threshold of £42 per month per individual or family unit on 1 July 1999. The primary aim of the new drug payment scheme is to bring about important improvements in the existing schemes and the scheme is designed to be more streamlined, user friendly and significantly improve the cash flow situation for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In determining eligibility, the local health board will have regard to the financial circumstances and medical needs of the applicant. In this regard, income guidelines are used by health boards to assist in determining a person's eligibility. These guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, the person may still be awarded a medical card if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide.
I am satisfied that appropriate and comprehensive support is being provided by the State to those with ongoing medical expenses such as people with asthma.
|
Daycases |
Inpatients |
Total |
Grand Total |
||||||||
|
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Total M+F |
|||||
|
Aged 0-9 |
Cases |
14 |
4 |
1670 |
898 |
1684 |
902 |
2586 |
|||
|
Aged 10-19 |
Cases |
21 |
16 |
522 |
563 |
543 |
579 |
1122 |
|||
|
Aged 20-29 |
Cases |
23 |
20 |
198 |
298 |
221 |
318 |
539 |
|||
|
Aged 30-39 |
Cases |
15 |
18 |
150 |
213 |
165 |
231 |
396 |
|||
|
Aged 40-49 |
Cases |
17 |
18 |
171 |
350 |
188 |
368 |
556 |
|||
|
Aged 50-59 |
Cases |
10 |
12 |
181 |
308 |
191 |
320 |
511 |
|||
|
Aged 60-69 |
Cases |
13 |
16 |
183 |
307 |
196 |
323 |
519 |
|||
|
Aged 70-79 |
Cases |
5 |
3 |
197 |
262 |
202 |
265 |
467 |
|||
|
Aged 80+ |
Cases |
0 |
3 |
62 |
96 |
62 |
99 |
161 |
|||
|
Total |
118 |
110 |
3334 |
3295 |
3452 |
3405 |
6857 |