asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including asthma as a long-term illness for medical card purposes.
Written Answers. - Long Term Illness Scheme.
49.
Persons suffering from asthma who are covered by a medical card obtain their necessary medication free of charge under the general medical service scheme. All other asthma sufferers can avail themselves of the refund of the cost of drugs scheme whereby they are entitled to a refund of the expenditure in excess of £28 per month incurred on drugs prescribed for use in the month.
The possibility of including asthma in the list of illnesses covered by the long term illness scheme has already been considered. Present financial constraints however do not permit this as such extension of the scheme would be likely to involve at least a doubling of the current expenditure on the scheme.