Vol. 434 No. 2
356 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the submission from the association representing the parents of children with congenital heart problems requesting automatic access to medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
366 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health if he will state his intentions in relation to the provision of medical card facilities for all children suffering from a congenital heart defect; when such provision will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 366 together.
I have received a submission from the Heart Children Association requesting an automatic entitlement to medical cards for children with congenital heart problems and have given it careful consideration.
Under the Health Act, 1970, 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 or other circumstances would justify this. In view of this special provision, I do not think that it is justifiable to extend an automatic entitlement to a medical card to any specific group without any reference to their means, particularly given the many areas of pressing need in the health services and the limited resources available to meet them.
