Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
694. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider his decision to remove gluten free products from the medical card list as this decision is causing great distress and hardship for a very large number of coeliacs all over the country [43478/12]
View answerIn the current financial environment the Health Service Executive (HSE) is facing a challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of reimbursable items, including gluten-free products.
The gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. A Supplementary Welfare Allowance Adult Diet Supplement may be awarded by the Department of Social Protection to eligible persons. Persons wishing to apply for this allowance can do so by completing an application form which can be downloaded at: www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/swa9.pdf. Separate application forms are available for children.
For persons who are not awarded a Diet Supplement, moneys spent on gluten-free foods can be taken into account for tax purposes.
