Brian O'Shea
Ceist:240 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to deal with the problems of the Irish Kidney Association (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22213/99]
Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
John Perry
Ceist:260 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures, if any, he has put in place to address the crisis of care for persons on renal replacement therapy by means of dialysis or transplantation in view of the fact that end stage renal failure is a medical term which covers a multitude of illnesses and reasons whereby persons kidneys cease to work efficiently; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Ireland has the poorest facilities and services in Europe for renal patients and it is estimated for the period 2000-16 the growth rate of renal patients will be at 12 per cent per year; the plans, if any, he has in place to address this crisis with the waiting time for vascular surgery which is in excess of the medical recommended time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22287/99]
Billy Timmins
Ceist:274 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the position with regard to increasing services for renal patients in view of the fact that each dialysis unit is under severe pressure to cope with the demands of existing patients and the numbers are expected to grow by 12 per cent per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22539/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 240, 260 and 274 together.
My Department is aware of pressures that are being experienced and that are anticipated as a result of growing demand for renal dialysis services and has been working with service providers and other relevant organisations in assessing the overall requirements of end-stage renal failure patients. These are being considered in the context of available funding for 2000 and beyond.
In relation to the new drug payment scheme which was introduced on 1 July 1999, with a threshold of £42 per month per individual or family unit, the primary aim is to bring about important improvements over previous schemes. The scheme is designed to be more streamlined, user friendly and to significantly improve the cash flow situation for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
With regard to the increase in the threshold, the position is that there has been no increase in the threshold for the previous schemes since 1991. It must also be borne in mind that the new threshold refers to family expenditure as opposed to the threshold in the drug cost subsidisation scheme which related to individual expenditure.
A common list of reimbursable medicines has been introduced for the GMS scheme and the new drug payment scheme. The introduction of the common medicines list will ensure equity between the general medical services and the new drug payment scheme in relation to the range of medicines paid for by the State under both schemes. The comprehensive range of modern therapies required to treat all conditions, which is available on the GMS, will continue to be paid for under the new scheme. This common list will be subject to ongoing review and amendment on a monthly basis as new products become available. Additions and deletions will be notified on a monthly basis. I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that with effect from 1 December 1999 Calcichew will be reimbursable on the common list.
Over the counter products, in general, such as vitamin supplements and cosmetic products are not available under the schemes. Officials from my Department have recently met with represen tatives from the Irish Kidney Association and explained that there are no plans to include the above mentioned products on the common list. However, if a medical card holder is suffering undue hardship in obtaining a product which is not covered under the common medicines list, they may apply to the chief executive officer of the relevant health board for assistance in such instances.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:241 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to meet the difficulties of dialysis patients in the South Eastern Health Board region (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22233/99]
The requirements of dialysis patients in the South Eastern Health Board region will be considered in the context of any available funding in 2000.