Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
596. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if he will meet families of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to discuss their concerns regarding the lack of implementation of the EU cross-border healthcare directive and its impact on their families. [16251/14]
View answerI wish to thank the Deputy for his representations, and request for a meeting, on behalf of this group of patients. I am aware of the concerns of this group of patients, and others in a similar situation, regarding the delay in the transposition of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. While the transposition of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive is behind schedule in the area of reimbursement, the other key block in the implementation of the Directive is in place in relation to a national contact point (NCP) which has been set up within the HSE and can provide patient's with information on matters other than reimbursement.
Once the necessary statutory provisions are completed and in place this group, and others, will be able to proceed to make applications for reimbursement under the terms of the Directive. I would like to assure all concerned that my Department is continuing to work as quickly as possible on the necessary statutory provisions to fully implement the Directive and will have them in place as soon as possible.
