Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 2002

Vol. 553 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Charges.

Noel Ahern

Question:

516 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding public hospitals charging patients for some medical procedures, for example, MRI scans, allergy tests and so on; the reason these facilities are not available free to public patients; if they are charged for in all public hospitals; and if the matter can be clarified and explained. [13245/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Entitlement to health services in Ireland is primarily based on residency and means rather than income. Any person, regardless of nationality, who is accepted by the health boards as being ordinarily resident in Ireland is entitled to either full eligibility – category 1, that is, medical card holders – or limited eligibility – category 2 – for health services. Health boards normally regard a person as ordinarily resident in Ireland if he or she satisfies the health board that it is his or her intention to remain in Ireland for a minimum period of one year.

Persons in category 1 are medical card holders and are entitled to a full range of services, including general practitioner services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards, including consultants services, all out-patient public hospital services, including consultants services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service.

Persons in category 2 – non-medical card holders – are entitled, subject to certain charges, to all in-patient public hospital services in public wards, including consultants services and out-patient public hospital services, including consult ants' services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €33 per night, up to a maximum of €330 in any 12 consecutive months. Attendance at accident and emergency departments is subject to a charge of €31.70 where the patient does not have a referral note from his or her doctor. This charge applies only to the first visit in any episode of care. A maternity and infant care service is provided during pregnancy and up to six weeks after birth.

Alternatively, one can opt to be the private patient of both the consultant and the hospital. Any patient, whether a medical card holder, who opts for treatment in a private hospital or as a private patient in a public hospital is liable for the costs relating to such treatment. A public patient who receives an MRI scan for treatment provided under the Health Acts is not liable to be charged for such a scan. Where a public hospital carries out an MRI scan on a patient referred from another public hospital, a system is in place to allow for charging between the hospitals. Any such charge may not be passed on to the public patient.

It should be noted that services which are not related to the diagnosis or treatment of a particular condition are provided on a private basis to the consumer. These include, for example, pre-employment screening, screening relating to applications for licences, provision of vaccinations and x-rays for travel abroad. Any charges for such services are the liability of the individual, including those who are medical card holders.