Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 3

Written Answers. - Drug Payment Scheme.

Liam Aylward

Question:

183 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to persons who can no longer avail of gluten free foods under the drugs payment scheme introduced in July 1999 and cannot afford the additional cost for these foods; and if he will include this variety of food under the scheme. [5837/00]

Denis Naughten

Question:

200 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to re-instate the range of foods available to coeliacs which were available under the previous drugs cost subsidisation scheme and have been removed from the new drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6008/00]

John McGuinness

Question:

204 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will review the drugs payment scheme with a view including items which form part of a gluten free diet such as pasta, cereals, bread, crackers and biscuits used extensively by coeliacs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6076/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 183, 200 and 204 together.

The drug payment scheme, with a threshold of £42 per month per individual or family, was intro duced on 1 July 1999 and replaced the drug cost subsidisation scheme and drug refund scheme. The primary aim of the scheme is to bring about important improvements over the previous schemes and the scheme is designed to be more streamlined, user friendly and to significantly improve the cash flow situation for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. With regard to the increase, I would point out that there has been no increase in the thresholds for the DCSS or DRS since 1991.

A common list of reimbursable items was introduced for the general medical services scheme and the drug payment scheme to ensure equity in relation to the products reimbursed by the State under both schemes. The list of reimbursable food items to which persons registered under the drug payment scheme are entitled is, therefore, in line with those items available to medical card holders and includes breads, bread mixes, flours and pizza bases. It is considered that the range of such items available under state reimbursement schemes provides a reasonable choice and persons requiring items which are not reimbursable would be expected to meet the full cost of such items. There are no plans to include other coeliac foods in the common list.

People 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. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide. In determining eligibility for a medical card, the local health board has regard to the financial circumstances of the applicant. Income guidelines are used by health boards to assist in determining a person's eligibility. However, 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.