Tony Gregory
Ceist:214 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if he will review the decision to refuse the provision of an inhaler machine to a child (details supplied) in Dublin 7.
Written Answers. - Provision of Inhaler.
Under the Health Act, 1970, a person with full eligibility is entitled to receive drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances free of charge. A health board may also make a contribution towards the cost of an appliance where hardship is involved.
The issuing of a medical card is a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board. In this instance, the family in question do not come within the income guidelines for medical card eligibility and therefore, were not granted a medical card by the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board.
I have asked the Eastern Health Board to review this case to see whether assistance could be given on hardship grounds.