asked the Minister for Health if he has made any changes in the list of medicines available to holders of medical cards for long-term illnesses; or if it is standard practice to refuse free medicine for an ailment unconnected with the long-term illness.
Written Answers. - Long Term Illness Scheme.
120.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the long term illness scheme as opposed to the General Medical Services ("Choice of Doctor") scheme available to medical card holders.
The long term illness scheme provides for the supply, free of charge, of drugs, medicines and appliances, for the direct treatment of 15 specified conditions regardless of the income of the patient. The 15 diseases/disabilities prescribed by Statutory Regulations are:
Mental handicap, mental illness (for persons under 16 only), phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalous, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism and acute leukaemia.
The long term illness scheme is intended to provide assistance where a patient with a prescribed condition is ineligible for medical card cover. The GMS scheme, eligibility for which is based on an assessment of means, provides general practitioner services and prescribed medicines free of charge to eligible patients.
Only drugs and medicines for the treatment of the prescribed conditions are covered by the long term illness scheme. The conditions covered by the scheme are such that the identity of the drugs and medicines suitable and appropriate for the direct treatment of the condition is quite apparent in nearly all cases.