asked the Minister for Health if he has given any direction to the health boards to withdraw authorisation cards for drugs and medicines for long term illness; if he is aware that a number of health boards have withdrawn these long term illness cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Long Term Illness Books.
74.
I have not given any direction to the health boards in regard to the issue or withdrawal of long term illness books. I am aware that some health boards have withdrawn long term illness books from persons who previously held both a medical card and a long term illness book and from other persons holding long term illness books who were subsequently found to be eligible for a medical card.
Medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, would be unable to provide general practitioner services, including the supply of drugs, for themselves and their dependants without incurring an undue level of hardship. The long term illness scheme provides drugs, free of charge, where these are prescribed for the treatment of one of a specific list of scheduled illnesses.
Given the nature of the services provided, possession of a medical card comprehends the benefits of a long term illness book and provides for the additional benefits of a free family doctor service. Long term illness books may therefore be withdrawn on issue of a medical card.
If a person suffering from a scheduled long term illness who holds a medical card only is prescribed any medication not available through the GMS scheme, arrangements are made by the health board for the supply of that medication to the patient concerned.
75.
asked the Minister for Health the number of long term illness cards provided for people in the Midland Health Board area as at 15 May 1984, 15 May 1985 and 15 May 1986.
As records in respect of the issue of long term illness books are maintained on an annual basis, statistics in respect of the dates mentioned are not available. The numbers of long term illness books provided for people in the Midland Health Board area as at 31 December 1983, 1984 and 1985 were 1,523, 1,165 and 1,244, respectively.