Written Answers Nos. 1090 - 1108
1090. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans to appoint the appropriate staff to the new cystic fibrosis unit at Cork University Hospital to ensure that this facility is fully functioning at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31893/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
1091. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 1 September 2015; the number of general practitioner visit cards on the same date; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [31895/15]
View answerThe following table provides the medical card and GP card figures as requested by the Deputy.
1st Sept 2015
|
Card Type |
No. of Cards |
|
Medical cards |
1,730,575 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
92,879 |
|
GP Visit cards |
365,859 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
40,979 |
1092. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health his plans to reintroduce vouched expenses for the national service users executive in order to continue the good work of this body representing the views and experience of those who use mental health services here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31896/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
1093. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards and GP visit cards currently issued in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31900/15]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
1094. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form for 1 January in each year from 2011 to 2015, and currently issued for each local health area, the number of medical cards in circulation; the number issued on the basis of the exercise of discretion; the number of which allocated to over 70s; the number of GP visit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31901/15]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
1095. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that investigations are under way into the processes involved in the purchasing of neurosurgical equipment at Health Service Executive funded hospitals; the hospitals that are involved in these investigations; if An Garda Síochána is involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31927/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
1096. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6 who has failed to receive a response in regard to supports available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31928/15]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Intellectual Disability; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI scheme. Under the LTI scheme, persons suffering from these prescribed conditions are provided free of charge with the drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances required for the specific treatment of those conditions. Drugs and medicines required for other associated conditions are not covered under the scheme.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held. In the case of a couple, the applicant’s means are assessed as 50% of the couple’s combined income and assets. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment. The capital value of an individual’s principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme has a number of important safeguards built into the financial assessment which ensures that:-
- Nobody will pay more than the actual cost of care;
- An applicant will keep a personal allowance of 20% of his/her income or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater;
- If an applicant has a spouse/partner remaining at home, he/she will be left with 50% of the couple’s income or the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater;
- If both members of a couple enter nursing home care, they each retain at least 20% of their income, or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater;
- Certain items of expenditure, called allowable deductions, can be taken into account for the financial assessment, including health expenses, payments required by law, rent payments and borrowings in respect of a person’s principal private residence;
- A person’s eligibility for other schemes, such as the Medical Card Scheme or the Drug Payment Scheme, is unaffected by participation in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme or residence in a nursing home.
In addition to these safeguards, where an applicant’s assets include land and property held in the State, the contribution based on such assets may be deferred and collected from their estate. A nursing home resident can apply for this deferral at any stage.
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme covers the cost of the standard components of residential care which are:
- Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
- Bed and board
- Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living
- Laundry service
A person’s financial assessment can be reviewed, at their request, if 12 months have passed since the initial financial assessment or the most recent review, or if the HSE is satisfied that there has been a material change to the person’s financial circumstances.
The applicant’s local HSE Nursing Homes Support Office will be able to provide further details in relation to the financial review process (HSE Nursing Homes Support Office, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Tel: 045 880400).
The specific issues raised in relation to the Long Term Illness Scheme are service matters and have been referred to the Health Service Executive for reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
1097. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 375 of 20 January 2015, his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the insulin pump programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31963/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
1098. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the number of annual pension payments made by his Department that exceed €60,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32007/15]
View answerThe Department of Health is a non-delegated Department in respect of the administration of pensions. The superannuation entitlements of staff of my Department are determined, awarded and administered by PeoplePoint under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
1099. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital bill for an Irish citizen who lives abroad (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32017/15]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
1100. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding taxi drivers and their health (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32018/15]
View answerThe Hospital In-Patient Enquiry system, which collects information on patients discharged from hospital, does not currently collect occupation. Therefore, the data sought by the Deputy is not available.
1101. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent in each year between 2008 and 2015 by the health services on biosimilar medicines; the proportion of each year’s total spend that this comprises; the measures that will be implemented to increase the use of biosimilars; if he will consider implementing a specific policy to increase the use of biosimilars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32022/15]
View answerThe use of biotechnology in the pharmaceutical field has led to the development of many new biological medicines, offering new treatments for a range of serious illnesses.
The manufacturing of a biological medicine is a complex process. Biosimilar medicines are similar but not identical to their reference biological medicines, and therefore are not considered in the same way as generic medicines. Under the Heath (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, biosimilars are not considered to be interchangeable, and therefore cannot be substituted for biological medicines.
It is likely that the use of biosimilar medicines will grow in Ireland in the coming years as the patents on biological medicines expire. However, promoting the increased use of biosimilar medicines must be carefully considered, and issues such as prescribing practices around biosimilars are currently under consideration by the Department.
Biosimilar medicines are not currently categorised as such on HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service databases; therefore it is not possible, without the allocation of significant resources, to collate the amount spent on biosimilar medicines in each of the years from 2008 to 2015.
1102. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of total spending on health including public spending, private health insurance and out-of-pocket charges in the most recent year for which these figures are available. [32024/15]
View answerThe most recent year for which public health expenditure data is available is 2014. In 2014, public non-capital expenditure on health was €13,276 million, including Treatment Benefits funded by the Department of Social Protection. Capital expenditure amounted to €386 million.
The most recent year for which private health expenditure is available is 2012. Private health expenditure, as provided by the Central Statistics Office, was €4,718 million. A more detailed breakdown of private health expenditure is not available.
1103. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the drug Kuvan will be made available on the long-term illness scheme to sufferers of PKU and BH4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32035/15]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or ministerial decisions.
Sapropterin (Kuvan®) was previously considered under the national pricing and reimbursement processes in 2009. At that time, insufficient evidence was available to support the pricing and reimbursement application submitted by the manufacturer, Merck Serono.
Merck Serono recently commenced the process of resubmitting a new application for pricing and reimbursement of Kuvan®; this application will now be considered in line with criteria set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and using the processes outlined in national pricing framework agreements.
As the application process is still at a very early stage, it is not possible to discuss potential outcomes or comment further at this time.
1104. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the drug Kuvan were to be made available on the long-term illness scheme to sufferers of PKU and BH4, the annual cost of same; the number of sufferers who would benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32036/15]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria, including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or ministerial decisions.
Sapropterin (Kuvan®) was previously considered under the national pricing and reimbursement processes in 2009. At that time, insufficient evidence was available to support the pricing and reimbursement application submitted by the manufacturer, Merck Serono.
Merck Serono recently commenced the process of resubmitting a new application for pricing and reimbursement of Kuvan®; this application will now be considered in line with criteria set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and using the processes outlined in national pricing framework agreements.
As the application process is still at a very early stage, it is not possible to discuss potential outcomes or to estimate the potential cost of making the drug available to a specific group of patients.
1105. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will consider proposals set out in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding the health service; his views that these proposals could be implemented to help improve the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32037/15]
View answerThe Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) Report, which was launched by the HSE in October 2014, sets out plans for a comprehensive reorganisation of health services outside the acute hospital system. The primary focus is to provide the maximum proportion of care to people in the communities where they live and to achieve joined-up, integrated services.
A National CHO Implementation Steering Group within the HSE is overseeing a three-year programme of work to fully establish the CHOs and the models of care delivery which they will enable. This will include the establishment of the full management team in each CHO, in order to ensure appropriate leadership and integrated delivery of services in line with national policy.
The HSE already has a Primary Care Team (PCT) and Network structure in place around the country consisting of over 400 PCTs. The PCT is the central point for service delivery which actively engages to address the medical and social care needs of the population in conjunction with a wider range of Network services. PCTs comprise a range of healthcare professionals, including general practitioners; nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, social workers, health care assistants, home helps, managers and administrative staff. Primary Care Networks provide additional resources depending on assessed needs, such as dieticians and psychologists, to a number of primary care teams. Members of Teams and Networks liaise with fellow team members on an ongoing basis in the context of individual client cases.
I will arrange for the Deputy's correspondence to be forwarded to the HSE's National Director of Primary Care so that it can be considered in the context of the HSE's ongoing planning for the delivery of services to patients at community level.
1106. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in a situation (details supplied) regarding the closure of a day centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32039/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within 15 working days, will he please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
1107. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason that there is no long stay residential accommodation for persons (details supplied) who have special needs and are in their adult years, in the north Kerry area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32048/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
1108. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32063/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days will he please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
