Skip to main content
Normal View

Health Services Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (1068, 1092)

David Cullinane

Question:

1068. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing a full medical card to all patients suffering from cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21331/20]

View answer

David Cullinane

Question:

1092. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of extending a full medical card to all cancer patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1068 and 1092 together.

Eligibility for a medical card is assessed primarily on the basis of a financial assessment. The HSE's Expert Group on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility examined the issue of awarding medical cards on the basis of illness and concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. The Expert Group also concluded that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card.

However every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds his or her income threshold, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness.

It should also be noted that the HSE has a system in place for the provision of medical cards in response to emergency situations i.e. in circumstances where persons are in need of urgent or on-going medical care that they cannot afford and also for persons who are terminally ill and are receiving end of life treatment. With the exception of terminally ill patients, all medical cards granted on an emergency basis are valid for 6 months and will be followed up with a full means assessment application within a number of weeks.

In relation to the cost of the provision of medical cards to all cancer patients, the data required is not readily available and it is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the cost.

Top
Share