Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jun 1993

Vol. 431 No. 6

Written Answers. - Medical Services for Handicapped.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

127 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the policy he has in regard to the supply of drugs, medication, hospital services and GP services to people with a disability, in particular a mental handicap; if he will issue a medical card to all persons who have a mental handicap; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

Everyone, regardless of income, can obtain without charge the drugs and medicines required for the treatment of the following conditions:— mental handicap, mental illness in persons under 16, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism and acute leukaemia. In addition hospital in-patient and out-patient services are available free of charge to all children suffering from the following conditions:— mental handicap, mental illness, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, haemophilia and cerebral palsy.

General practitioner services and all prescribed drugs are provided free of charge to medical card holders. Under the 1970 Health Act, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the Chief Executive Officer of the appropriate health board are unable, without undue hardship, to provide general practitioner services for themselves and their dependants.

Income guidelines are available to assist Chief Executive Officers in the determination of a person's eligibility and these guidelines are revised annually in line with the Consumer Price Index.

However, these guidelines are not statutorily binding and even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, that person may still be awarded a medical card if the Chief Executive Officer considers that the person's medical needs would justify this. At present almost 36 per cent of the population hold medical cards.

I have given the matter of granting medical cards to persons with a mental handicap or a disability very careful consideration. While I am of course anxious that every person who is in genuine need of a medical card should receive one, I do not think that it is justifiable to grant a medical card to any particular group without any reference to their means.

It is open to all persons to apply to the Chief Executive Officer of the appropriate health board for health services if they are unable to provide these services for themselves or their dependants without hardship. I am satisfied that health boards give sympathetic consideration to such applications when the circumstances warrant it.