Current arrangements to provide treatment for persons who contracted hepatitis C as a result of a blood or blood product transfusion encompass both secondary care, hospital services and primary care services.
In the case of persons so infected, the Health (Amendment) Act, 1996, provides statutory entitlement to a range of primary health care services, free of charge. The services in place include general practitioner services and drugs and medicines for all medical conditions, home nursing services, home help services, dental and ophthalmic services and counselling services. Each health board has appointed a liaison officer to ensure the smooth operation of the delivery of services under the Act, and to act as a contact point for individuals and for the various interest groups whose members avail of services under the Act. My Department maintains contact with the representative organisations and the health board liaison officers to ensure that any issues in relation to service provision that arise can be tackled quickly and effectively.
In relation to secondary care services, treatment for those who contracted hepatitis C from the receipt of blood or blood products is being provided at special consultant staffed clinics at six designated hospitals: Beaumont Hospital, the Mater Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital and St. James's Hospital in Dublin, Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital, Galway. These services, provided under the Health Act, 1970, are free of charge and include access to both in-patient and out-patient treatment, as required. Special funding has been and will continue to be provided by my Department for these services, to ensure that the needs of hepatitis C patients are met.