Skip to main content
Normal View

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Questions (260)

Arthur Spring

Question:

260. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the criteria that applied for inclusion of conditions that are covered by the long term illness scheme. [32673/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme is a non-means tested scheme introduced in 1971. It provides free medicines and medical or surgical appliances to people with specified conditions. The LTI Scheme arose from a non-statutory scheme, established in 1967, for the free supply of certain products for the treatment of diabetes to persons who did not hold a medical card under the Health Act 1947. The Scheme was also intended to assist those without medical cards who had regular large drug bills from particular conditions.

The scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970, which has been amended and now reads as follows - "The Health Service Executive may make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines or medical and surgical appliances, for the time being on the Reimbursement List within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature.” Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the Scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme. The LTI Scheme predates the introduction of the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), under which no individual or family currently pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.

Top
Share