Vol. 535 No. 1
283 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will take steps to ensure that all persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease are automatically granted a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11423/01]
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 officer 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 officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances justify the award. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis.
Non-medical card holders can avail of the drug payment scheme, which was introduced on 1 July 1999 and replaced the drug cost subsidisation scheme (DCSS) and drug refund scheme (DRS). Under the drug payment scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than £42 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. 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 cash flow for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. I am satisfied that adequate arrangements are in place to meet the needs of persons with Alzheimer's disease and others with ongoing medical expenses.
