asked the Minister for Health if he will state, in respect of the latest three years for which figures are available, the number of persons who were considered as outside the lower income group and who received (i) assistance towards hospital fees and (ii) assistance towards the cost of drugs from health authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hospital Fees and Drugs.
80.
In addition to those in the lower income group, comprising about 30 per cent of the population, who are entitled to free hospital services, all those classified as being in the middle income group, comprising about 60 per cent of the population, and hardship cases above the middle income group, are entitled to hospital services either free or at a charge not exceeding 10/- a day. Figures as to the numbers in these latter two categories who actually received hospital treatment in the years in question are not available to my Department and I would not feel justified in putting health authorities to the considerable trouble and expense which would be involved in extracting the information.
I might mention that a special analysis made for the year 1960-61 indicated that approximately 60 per cent of the middle income group patients availing of hospital services under section 15 of the Health Act, 1953, received these services free of charge. The 40 per cent who were required to make some payment were equally divided between those who paid up to 5/- a day and those who paid from 5/- to 10/- a day.
I presume that part (ii) of the Deputy's question relates to the arrangements for the supply of drugs and medicines under section 14 of the Health Act, 1953, in cases of hardship to persons not covered by medical cards. The following is the information: 1964, 1,521; 1965, 2,149; and 1966, 3,556.