Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004
143 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the assistance that is available to cancer patients who must travel outside of the State to receive treatment privately; and if the health boards are allowed to assist with accommodation and travelling expenses in these situations. [17124/04]
View answerWhere an individual requires specific treatment that cannot be provided in Ireland a health board may refer them to another member state for treatment. Under EU regulations the board issues the form E112 to the person seeking treatment to establish his or her entitlement and to imply a commitment by the health board to pay the full cost of the treatment. My Department has issued guidelines that set down the criteria to be used by health boards when assessing applications for approval of forms E112. They are as follows: the application to refer a patient abroad must be assessed before the patient goes abroad except in cases of extreme urgency; and medical evidence must be provided by a hospital consultant giving details of the condition from which the patient suffers and of the type of treatment envisaged. The consultant must also certify the following: the treatment is not available here; there is an urgent medical necessity for it; there is a reasonable medical prognosis; the treatment is regarded as a proven form of medical treatment; and the treatment abroad is in a recognised hospital or other institution and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.
Where a person's E112 application is approved a health board may provide assistance towards the cost of travel and subsistence expenses. The relevant health board is responsible for making a decision on the matter. Private arrangements for the treatment of a patient in any country abroad must be regarded as outside the terms of the EU regulations. Health boards have no obligation to meet any part of the cost involved.
