Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 6

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Pat Gallagher

Ceist:

70 Mr. Gallagher (Laoighis-Offaly) asked the Minister for Health if the Midland Health Board will make a personal medical card available to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly in view of the chronic and unusual medical condition suffered by this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23930/96]

Limerick East): 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 drawn up by the chief executive officers to assist 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. Medical cards may also be awarded to individual family members.

I have had inquiries made of the Midland Health Board concerning this case and have been assured that the application has been reviewed on hardship grounds. However, as the person's income was substantially over the standard income guidelines the health board considered that the applicant would not be entitled to a medical card on hardship grounds. Should the circumstances of the applicant change a fresh application would, of course, be treated in a sympathetic manner by the health board.

Non medical card holders are entitled to all inpatient and accident and emergency public hospital services subject only to modest statutory charges. Out-patient services are provided free of charge while those with a referral note from their general practitioner are exempt from the accident and emergency statutory charge. Non medical card holders are also entitled to a refund of expenditure, including that of dependants, over £90 per calendar quarter on prescribed drugs and medicines.

Barr
Roinn