Persons suffering from any of the following conditions, who are not already medical card holders, may obtain without charge drugs and medicines for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme: mental handicap, mental illness – for persons under 16 years only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, Parkinsonism and acute leukaemia.
Persons with any of the above illnesses may apply to their local health board for admission to the long-term illness scheme. If eligible, they are issued with a long-term illness book. This lists the drugs and medicines for the treatment of their condition that will be provided to them free of charge through their community pharmacist.