Mary Wallace
Ceist:66 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health the changes, if any, he is considering in relation to the long-term illness card scheme. [7150/97]
Written Answers. - Long-Term Illness Scheme.
Limerick East): The long-term illness scheme entitles persons who suffer from certain illness to free drugs and medicines which are prescribed in respect of a particular illness. This scheme has not been extended since 1975 and there are no plans to change the scheme or to expand the number of illnesses covered by the scheme, having regard to the fact that the needs of individuals with significant or ongoing medical expenses are met by a range of other schemes which provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines.
Where an individual or a family is subjected to a significant level of on-going expenditure on medical expenses, such as general practitioner fees or prescribed drugs due to a long-term medical condition, these expenses maybe reckoned in determining eligibility for a medical card. Eligibiliity for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide.
The drug cost subsidisation scheme caters for people who do not have a medical card or a long-term illness book and are certified as having a medical condition with a regular and on-going requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines. Persons who qualify for inclusion in this scheme will not have to spend more than £32 in any month on prescribed medication.
Under the drugs refund scheme which covers expenditure by the whole family, any expenditure on prescribed medication above £90 in a calendar quarter is refunded by the health board. I am satisfied that appropriate and comprehensive support is being provided by the State through the existing range of schemes for people with long-term medical conditions. My Department has replied to this effect to the North-Western Health Board.