Vol. 526 No. 3
242 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will have re-examinations made into entitlements for coeliacs under the medical card scheme; and if he will bring these entitlements into line with those that are available in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. [26284/00]
Under the general medical services scheme certain gluten free foods are available to medical card holders who are coeliacs. These food items include breads, bread mixes, flours and pizza bases.
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 in line with those items available to medical card holders. While the range of such items available under State reimbursement schemes provides a reasonable choice of gluten free foods, my Department is currently reviewing the list of gluten free products with a view to making some additional products available under the common reimbursable list. I expect that this review will be completed shortly.
