Written Answers Nos. 326-335
326. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health how many people have died in Ireland from stroke per year from 2014 to 2021 inclusive, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45876/23]
View answerReferring to HSE as this is an operational matter.
327. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason the provision of ceiling hoists as essential equipment for people with disabilities was passed from the HSE to local authorities with the responsibility and servicing costs having to be borne by persons who use the equipment; when the policy changed; and if the provision and servicing of ceiling hoists will be transferred back to the HSE. [45889/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities to meet their needs. There are a range of services in place to protect individuals and families from excessive costs for their medical and surgical needs.
The Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability assist people to have necessary adaptations, repairs or improvement works carried out to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The scheme is administered by local authorities under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
In late 2020, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage offered guidance to local authorities that ceiling hoists should not be included in the Housing Adaptation Grants. However, engagement between the Department of Health and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has resulted in a resolution of the matter. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has reversed that decision and ceiling hoists are fundable under the Housing Adaptation Grants.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a wide range of aids and appliances following assessment by a relevant health care professional and in accordance with the patient’s eligibility under the Health Act 1970 (as amended). These applications are made under the Community Funded Schemes and a determination is made regarding approval based on clinical priority and the funding available within local budgets. These aids and appliances play a key role in assisting and supporting people to maintain everyday functioning and to remain living in their homes and local community.
The Community Funded Schemes have not generally funded ceiling track hoists given the need for structural adaptations necessary to install them and, also, that they had been funded under the Housing Adaptation Grants. It is also important to note that it has never been the policy of the HSE that the provision of ceiling track hoists should be funded under the Community Funded Schemes.
328. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health to review a case (detail supplied); if he will ensure this matter is dealt with speedily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45890/23]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
329. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason persons with a medical card suffering from hidradenitis suppurativia and who have been prescribed the drug ozempic to help with the condition, are not covered for the provision of the drug. [45893/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the Community Drug Schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list. In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
Ozempic® (Semaglutide) was approved by the HSE in 2018 for addition to the reimbursement list for the treatment of diabetes. Ozempic® (Semaglutide) has not been approved for reimbursement for any other indication. Reimbursement support for Ozempic® (Semaglutide) for the treatment of diabetes only is available to those with eligibility under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme or the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme.
330. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the population of each CHO area as of the 2022 census, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45894/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table:
|
CHO Area |
2022 Population |
2016 Population |
Percentage Population Change 2016-2022 |
|
CHO 1: Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo |
416,138 |
391,281 |
6.4% |
|
CHO 2: Galway, Mayo, Roscommon |
485,966 |
453,109 |
7.3% |
|
CHO 3: Clare, Limerick, Tipperary N |
413,059 |
384,998 |
7.3% |
|
CHO 4: Cork, Kerry |
740,614 |
690,575 |
7.2% |
|
CHO 5: Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary S, Waterford, Wexford |
549,720 |
510,333 |
7.7% |
|
CHO 6: Dublin South East, Dun Laoghaire, Wicklow |
421,373 |
393,239 |
7.2% |
|
CHO 7: Dublin S City, Dublin SW, Dublin W, Kildare/W Wicklow |
759,640 |
697,644 |
8.9% |
|
CHO 8: Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath |
681,863 |
619,281 |
10.1% |
|
CHO 9: Dublin N, Dublin N Central & Dublin NW |
680,766 |
621,405 |
9.6% |
|
Total |
5,149,139 |
4,761,865 |
8.1% |
331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to conduct a cost benefit analysis into subsidising essential asthma medications which are excluded from the long-term illness scheme as a means of reducing unscheduled asthma-related GP, ED visits and hospital admissions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45896/23]
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, prescribing 16 conditions covered by the Scheme. These are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; 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.
Under the LTI Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. While there are currently no plans to extend the list of conditions covered, it is important to remember that the LTI Scheme exists within a wider eligibility framework.
This Government has put a significant focus on improving access to and the affordability of healthcare services, advancing substantial policy, legislation and investment to deliver expanded eligibility.
In 2022, a range of measures were delivered including the abolition of public inpatient charges for children, reductions in the Drug Payment Scheme threshold to €80 per month, and the introduction of free contraception for women aged 17-25.
In 2023, a further range of measures facilitated better access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. These include an expansion of GP care without charges to children aged 6 and 7, and to people earning no more than the median household income, the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for adults, and the extension of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 26-30.
These measures continue to create a health and social care service that offers affordable access to quality healthcare.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal Reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
Generally, medicines added to the reimbursement list are available on both the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme and the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS). There are medicines and products available for the treatment of asthma under both schemes.
In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card under the GMS Scheme is determined by the HSE. Medical card eligibility is primarily based on an assessment of means and is not granted on the basis of any particular condition.
In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness.
Under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Individuals may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
332. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health to outline the primary role and responsibilities of the National Director for Mental Health before this post was discontinued; the date this role was discontinued; to clarify which individuals in the HSE have assumed the roles and responsibilities previously held by the National Director for Mental Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45898/23]
View answer333. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason the role of National Director for Mental Health within the HSE was discontinued; if, in light of the Mental Health Commission’s call for its reinstatement, if he will agree to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45899/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
334. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies in each of the 75 CAMHS teams, by post, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45900/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
335. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to enhance the co-ordination and governance of community-based child and youth mental health services and establish a more cohesive and effective continuum of care, particularly given the number of HSE-funded service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45901/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
