asked the Minister for Health the services that are available free to muscular dystrophy cases; and if he will consider extending these services to cover in-patient and out-patient services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Muscular Dystrophy Cases.
If a person suffering from muscular dystrophy is the holder of a medical card then, in common with other medical card holders, he is entitled to free general practitioner services, to the free supply of drugs, medicines and appliances and to free hospital in-patient and out-patient services.
If such person is not the holder of a medical card he is entitled to the supply without charge of drugs, medicines and appliances for the treatment of this condition.
I am informed that constant hospital care is not normally associated with this condition, nor does it normally lead to other conditions requiring in-patient or out-patient hospital care. Such care is, as the Deputy is aware, available to some 85 per cent of the population free of charge and would be similarly available, in the normal course, to a muscular dystrophy patient. If the question of hardship should arise in a particular case there is already provision to deal with this. I do not propose, therefore, to extend the service further.