asked the Minister for Health if he will extend the free medicine scheme to include Addison's disease.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Medicine Scheme.
114.
Following an extensive review of the long term illness scheme, I announced recently that I propose to add four further conditions to the prescribed list of diseases in respect of which drugs and appliances are provided free of charge. In the course of that review consideration was given to a number of other conditions, including Addison's disease, which are not already covered but it is not possible to include these at present.
Would the Minister take into consideration the difficulties and hardships encountered by people suffering from the disease in the provision of drugs the cost of which is increasing month after month? A case has been brought to my attention where it is costing a person over £10, perhaps, £12 to £15 per month for medication. Those people are badly hit and are paying other charges on their homes. There is also to be taken into consideration the high cost of living——
It is not appropriate for the Deputy to make a speech.
But these people are not eligible for medical cards. They have to provide also for a doctor's attendance.
I certainly do appreciate what the Deputy has said. But I should tell him, and the House, that the original list which I inherited was made out in 1971. I have been under pressure from various Deputies in the House with interest in particular illnesses. As a matter of fact, I thought Deputy Haughey would be here to thank me for having included leukaemia but he has left. So far as the other part of the Deputy's question is concerned, there are very few people in this country who would be required to pay up to as the Deputy said, £10 to £12 a week for drugs or medicines.
I did not say per week.
The recent scheme provides that the maximum amount a person would have to pay for drugs and medicines would be £4 per month. The rest is refunded by the appropriate health board.