Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2013
950. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if it is true that sick and dying cancer patients are being pursued by debt collectors acting on behalf of our public hospitals for €75 per day for chemotherapy treatment; the policy in these hospitals regarding engaging debt collectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57838/12]
View answer951. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health with regard to the €75 per day charge for persons suffering from cancer who have to receive different types of daily treatments, if it is time for him to issue a new directive excluding some categories of patients from this charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57839/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 950 and 951 together.
The public in-patient charge (€75 per day subject to a maximum of €750 in any period of 12 consecutive months) is provided for by the Health (In-Patient Charges) Regulations 1987 (as amended), made under Section 53 of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). These regulations underpin charges for any person admitted to hospital as a day case.
Under the regulations, medical card holders are exempted from this charge.
In 2011 the Health Service Executive instructed all collection agencies involved in the collection of hospital charges that charges in excess of the prescribed amounts may not be levied on patients.
