Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
1145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will disclose further details of his recent statements on the granting of medical cards to non-terminal cancer patients, whereby he stated that they were no longer guaranteed a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35505/13]
View answerIn accordance with the 1970 Health Act, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the overall financial situation of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. In line with the legislation, there is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with cancer, or any other specific illness. There has been no change in entitlement in this regard.
The processing of medical cards at a national level ensures that all people are treated in a similar, fair manner. While people with specific illnesses such as cancer are not automatically entitled to medical cards, the legislation provides for discretion by the HSE to grant a medical card where a person's income exceeds the income guidelines. The HSE takes a person's social and medical issues into account when determining whether there is "undue hardship" for a person in providing a health service for himself or herself or his or her dependants.
At the request of the Minister for Health, the HSE set up a clinical panel to assist in the processing of applications for such discretionary medical cards, where there are difficult personal circumstances. This procedure ensures that the specific situation of a person with a particular diagnosis, such as one of the many forms of cancer, can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The HSE also has a separate procedure in place for the provision of emergency medical cards for patients who are seriously ill and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford. Emergency medical cards are issued by the HSE within twenty-four hours of receipt of the required patient details and the letter of confirmation of the condition from a doctor or a medical consultant. With the exception of terminally ill patients, the HSE issues all emergency cards on the basis that the patient is eligible for a medical card on the basis of means or undue hardship, and that the applicant will follow up with a full application within a number of weeks of receiving the emergency card. As a result, emergency medical cards are issued to a named individual, with a limited eligibility period of six months.
The arrangement differs for persons with a terminal illness. Once the terminal illness is verified, patients are given an emergency medical card for six months. Given the nature and urgency of the issue, the HSE has appropriate escalation routes to ensure that the person gets the card as quickly as possible.
The HSE ensures that the system responds to the variety of circumstances and complexities faced by individuals in these circumstances.
