Vol. 540 No. 3
134 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of meetings his officials have had with the Irish Medical Organisation; if his attention has been drawn to the organisation's decision not to co-operate with the scheme to provide medical cards to all those persons over 70 years of age; if he will outline the steps he will take to resolve non co-operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20482/01]
153 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children when persons aged 70 years of age and over will receive medical card cover; if he will ensure that all persons will receive medical prescriptions free from that date even if doctors do not participate immediately; and if he will set out the regulations which will accompany the scheme. [20562/01]
183 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which he proposes to issue medical cards through health boards to persons over 70 if general practitioners have not signed the form of consent. [20802/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 153 and 183 together.
I signed the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2001, (Commencement) Order, 2001, on 28 June last and this commenced the automatic eligibility of persons aged 70 years and over for medical cards with effect from 1 July. No other regulations are required to give effect to this provision of the Act. The automatic right to eligibility is confined to the person in the relevant age category. The provision does not extend to dependants below the age of 70. However, persons aged 70 and over retain the option of applying for a medical card in the normal way and, if their application is successful, the medical card would extend to any dependants, irrespective of age, as is currently the case.
As both the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union have agreed to operate the new arrangements on an interim basis pending ballots of their respective members, no difficulties are anticipated either with doctors participating in the scheme or with pharmacists dispensing drugs from the common list free of charge. Accordingly, the contingencies identified do not arise. My Department has held six meetings with the Irish Medical Organisation to resolve this issue.
