Vol. 267 No. 8
asked the Minister for Health the number of requests he has had to include (1) multiple sclerosis, (2) progressive muscular dystrophy and (3) Parkinson's disease on the list of diseases for which treatment is available free; and the action he has taken on these requests.
20.
asked the Minister for Health if he has received representations regarding the inclusion of a number of chronic and incurable conditions in the list of diseases for which free treatment is available; if so, if he will give details; and if he will state the action taken in regard to them.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
I presume the Deputy's second question related to the conditions mentioned in the first.
The number of requests for including the illnesses mentioned in the prescribed list of long term illnesses is—multiple sclerosis—1; Parkinson's disease—10; muscular dystrophy—3.
As mentioned in my reply to the Deputy on 28th March last, I am reviewing this scheme and the lists of diseases. Special attention will be given to these illnesses in that review.
Would the Minister be able to state when this review will take place?
I am doing my very best, because I appreciate the difficulties that people are in with regard to these procedures. I am doing my best to see what I can do, even within the coming year, to include, if not all of the diseases that have been suggested to me, those that I consider to be of the gravest hardship to parents of children and to persons suffering from these illnesses.
