Vol. 567 No. 5
306 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be supplied with the equipment to test their blood on an ongoing basis; the reason the South-Eastern Health Board or their general practitioner cannot do this; the reason the equipment must be ordered from Dublin; and if the case will be expedited. [14314/03]
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 any of the following conditions, who are not already medical card holders, for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme: mental handicap, mental illness – for persons under 16 years only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism and acute leukaemia. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the South-Eastern Health Board to investigate the position in relation to this case and to reply directly to the Deputy.
