Written Answers Nos. 531-546
533. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health following the vaccine named Bexcero being approved for use by the European Commission in January 2013, if there are any plans to approve and introduce the use of this vaccine here in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33336/13]
View answer534. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if the level of infection of meningitis B here, being the highest in Europe, has been taken into account in respect of the decision on the use of the vaccine named Bexcero for the treatment of meningitis B here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33337/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 534 together.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice, international best practice and by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). A Health Technology Assessment which includes a cost benefit analysis is carried out prior to any new vaccine being considered. This has a vital role in ensuring that care technologies, including vaccines, are used in a manner appropriate to their ability to maximise health gain and achieve value for money. Should NIAC advice recommend the inclusion of a new vaccine into the primary childhood immunisation programme in Ireland, my Department, in association with the Health Service Executive's National Immunisation Office will examine the issue.
535. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health If he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33338/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
536. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health his plans to publish the results of the consultation process which ended on the 16 January 2013 and which sought the views of the public and stakeholders into proposals from the European Commission on a new Tobacco Directive; if he will confirm the reason these results have not been published to date, as the overwhelming majority of submissions received were opposed to a number of specific measures proposed therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33339/13]
View answerSmoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland - killing over 5,200 people a year. This represents approximately 19% of all deaths. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable mortality in Ireland. Smokers lose on average 10 to 15 years of quality life. Smokers have higher levels of life long morbidity than non-smokers. Smoking is the main cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An analysis of the results of the consultation process is being actively worked on at present and it is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. I am delighted by the progress made to date in the negotiations on the new Tobacco Products Directive at a European level. The main objective of this proposal is to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products, particularly to children and young people. This Directive will have a very positive impact on the health of Europeans.
537. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if his Department is engaging in pre-budget discussions with a view to protecting existing services for personal assistance services to persons with disabilities. [33351/13]
View answerThe level of funding available for the health budget and the extent of the savings required in the health sector are being considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2014 which is currently underway. Deliberations by the Government on the expenditure allocations for next year are likely to continue up until Budget time and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage pending the outcome of those deliberations. The very difficult financial position facing the Exchequer will obviously require very careful management across all areas of expenditure.
The level of funding which the HSE will allocate to specific services in 2014 will have to be determined by the Executive in the context of the overall level of resources which will be made available to it next year, and priorities identified in the National Service Plan.
538. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health when he will take definitive action in relation to the extension of the Neary redress scheme as committed to under the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33353/13]
View answerA commitment was made in the Programme for Government to seek a mechanism to compensate those women who were excluded on age grounds alone from the Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme. The Scheme of Redress approved by Government in 2007 was a non-statutory, ex-gratia scheme. Awards were determined by an independent Redress Board in 2007 and 2008. My Department has been engaged in a review to identify the most appropriate mechanism to compensate these women. This review has included taking instructions and legal advice, including advice from the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to bringing proposals to Government for a decision. I intend to bring these proposals to Government shortly.
539. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33361/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
540. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the inclusion of Pirfenidone in the GMS and community drug schemes; the current status of the application; the timeframe for decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33369/13]
View answerThe HSE has completed the consideration of the pricing and reimbursement application for Pirfenidone (Esbriet). The pricing and reimbursement application and associated commercially confidential offer made by Intermune has been accepted. The HSE has been in contact with Intermune (the market authorisation holder) and has confirmed that it will be in a position to commence reimbursement from 1st of August 2013, subject to Intermune being in a position to launch the product. The HSE expects that Intermune will be in a position to launch on the 1st of August. The administrative processes to allow reimbursement to happen are ongoing and will be completed over the next few weeks.
541. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a detailed report on the BreastCheck programme; the number of women who have had their first mammogram in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the amount of women who should have been called and have now missed out on the programme for the same period; the figures for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33383/13]
View answerThe Deputy's questions relate to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
542. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently review the medical card downgrading in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33385/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
543. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review an entitlement to a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33387/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
544. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review the recent refusal of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33389/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
545. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that access for general practitioners to lung function tests at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, is restored immediately in the interests of early diagnosis of asthma and emphysema and other lung diseases and the better health outcomes that result; and if he will request information from the hospital as to the short, medium and long-term cost increases that will result because patients have to wait far longer for diagnosis. [33407/13]
View answer553. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Health the reason the Mater Hospital, Dublin, is no longer able to provide lung function tests if required by general practitioners; if there is another hospital where GPs can refer directly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33465/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 553 together.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.
546. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health when persons who are on the long term illness scheme will be allowed to automatically qualify for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33410/13]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits and is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services to themselves and their dependents without undue hardship. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with any specific illness.
The Long Term Illness Scheme provides those persons, suffering from prescribed conditions, who are not already medical card holders, with free drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of that condition. Medical card holders are required to pay prescription charges. Prescription charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. The Government has no plans to provide an automatic entitlement to a medical card to patients with specific long term illnesses.
However, the Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its first term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government’s health reform programme. The current Government is the first in the history of this State to have committed itself to implementing a universal GP service for the entire population.
