Vol. 541 No. 5
220 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Health and Children if children diagnosed with a particular medical condition (details supplied) qualify for a medical card on medical grounds regardless of their parents' income; if so, if the card can be made valid for a number of years; and if he will issue a directive to health boards in this regard. [23438/01]
Under the Health Act, 1970, a health board may make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature. Mental handicap is one of the conditions prescribed under the Act. Drugs which are directly related to the treatment of these conditions are made available free of charge. The operation of the scheme, known as the long-term illness scheme, is primarily a matter for the relevant health board.
Persons who have been diagnosed with any of the illnesses prescribed under the Act, including mental handicap, should apply to their local health board for admission to the scheme. Once eligible, they are issued with a long-term illness book which lists the drugs and medicines which will be provided to them free of charge through their community pharmacist.
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, by legislation, solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide. In determining eligibility for a medical card, the chief executive 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 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.
