Carol Nolan
Question:1208. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health his plans to remove inpatient charges for cancer patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32101/19]
View answerTuesday, 23 July 2019
Questions (1208, 1475)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:1475. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the measures he is taking in Budget 2020 to reduce charges for cancer patients; the estimated cost of removing inpatient charges for cancer patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33135/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1208 and 1475 together.
The Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all people ordinarily resident in the country are entitled, subject to certain charges, to public in-patient hospital services including consultant services and to public out-patient hospital services. Under the Health (Amendment) Act 2013, a person who has been referred to a hospital for an in-patient service, including that provided on a day case basis, will have to pay the statutory daily charge, currently €80 per day, up to a maximum of €800 per year. Such charges do not apply to medical card holders.
On this basis, where treatment for cancer is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out-patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies.