Written Answers Nos. 186-196
186. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if Ireland plans to sign up to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products; if so, the status of the progress of Ireland's accession to the protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12266/17]
View answerThe WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) treaty was ratified by the State in November 2005. Ireland is a strong advocate of the FCTC and is fully committed to its implementation. The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products was adopted in November 2012 and is the first protocol to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). The Protocol was signed by Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York on 20 December 2013 and it is the intention to ratify the Protocol.
The objective of the Protocol is to eliminate all forms of illicit trade in tobacco products. The Protocol requires Parties to take measures to control the supply chain of tobacco products effectively and to cooperate internationally on a wide range of matters, including information sharing, administrative and legal assistance and extradition. Given the mixed competencies outlined in the Protocol, discussions at national and European levels are under way in order to progress to the formal ratification of the Protocol.
187. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a refund in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12205/17]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
188. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a cataract operation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12206/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
189. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce measures to reduce the costs of health insurance in view of the further planned price increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12207/17]
View answerInsurance companies operate as commercial providers and as Minister for Health, I have no legal power to intervene in relation to any insurer’s prices. The cost of private health insurance is influenced by a number of factors such as the number of persons in the market, the age profile of those holding private health insurance and ongoing medical innovations. Each of these are contributors to the cost of care, the cost of claims and therefore the cost of premiums payable.
A community-rated health insurance market depends on inter-generational solidarity and requires a constant influx of young healthy members to support the older, less healthy members. Lifetime Community Rating was introduced in 2015 and has encouraged people to take out health insurance at a younger age. In a community rated market this helps to spread the costs of older and less healthy people across all insured persons. The introduction of young adult rates in 2015 has reduced the cost of insurance for individuals up to age 25 and increased the numbers retaining private health insurance which contributes positively to controlling premium inflation.
We have a highly competitive insurance market. Many consumers can make savings on their health insurance premiums by taking advantage of promotional offers and by reviewing their level of cover to ensure that their needs are being met, without being over-insured. The Health Insurance Authority website offers a clear price comparison and can be accessed at www.hia.ie. All of the health insurers provide plans at a variety of price points, which provides scope for consumers to find value in the market and to access the level of cover appropriate to their individual or family needs.
190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12211/17]
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 you directly.
191. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health the efforts being made to reduce the waiting time for orthodontic treatment in a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12212/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
192. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will expand the level of dental services available to medical card holders and PRSI patients in view of the concerns of the dental care professionals regarding the levels of oral health since cutbacks were introduced (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12215/17]
View answerAll medical card holders are entitled to specific dental treatments e.g., an annual dental examination, two fillings in each calendar year, extractions as necessary. Additional treatments are available to persons with specific medical conditions including persons in receipt of care or services for a disability and persons on a register of disability.
Future service provision will be informed by the National Oral Health Policy currently being developed by the Department of Health. The project includes a needs assessment, a review of resources and involves consultation with stakeholders, including dental professionals and the public.
Services available under PRSI Schemes are a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.
193. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12231/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
194. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when he envisages the medical lead on dual diagnosis will commence work, having been appointed six months ago. [12235/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
195. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will consider giving persons on waiting lists for more than one year an optional financial contribution towards the cost of a private consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12236/17]
View answerAs the reduction of waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of the Government’s key priorities, €20 million has been allocated to the NTPF in the Budget 2017, rising to €55 million in 2018. This funding will be dedicated to the provision of daycase and inpatient treatment to patients. Under the NTPF Daycase Initiative 2017, patients will commence receiving appointments for treatment during March.
During 2016, there has been evidence of a considerable increase in demand for health services, as our population grows and ages. In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, the HSE is currently developing Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the area of Inpatient Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. Draft Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient Daycase and Scoliosis have been submitted. My Department is currently reviewing these plans and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF. The HSE has also significantly progressed the development of a draft Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan. In this Plan, the HSE will identify proposals to reduce the number of patients waiting long periods of time for outpatient appointments across all hospitals.
196. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to pursue criminal proceedings against a pharmacy chain (details supplied) following systemic overcharging of prescription fees by same. [12251/17]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
