Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Grant Funding.

Pat Carey

Question:

252 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider giving financial assistance to the Coeliac Society; if he will consider reviewing the drug refund scheme to take account of the concerns of the society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29668/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

An application from the Coeliac Society for financial assistance has been received by my Department. This application is under consideration at present and a decision in the matter will be made shortly.

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.

The drug payment scheme is a community drugs scheme for non medical card holders to assist them with the cost of approved prescribed medicines and other items. Under the drug payment scheme, an individual or family unit pays the first £42 per month towards the cost of all their approved prescribed medicines. The scheme is designed to significantly improve the cash flow situation for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.

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.