There is no charge payable by public patients who receive an MRI scan in a public hospital. All public patients are entitled to public hospital services subject only to the statutory charges in respect of in-patient services and at Accident and Emergency Departments, where applicable. Statutory charges for hospital in-patient services and out-patient services are not applicable in the case of people with full eligibility i.e. holders of a medical card.
In relation to the specific information sought concerning the average waiting time for an MRI scan, as the management and delivery of health and personal social services are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.