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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

1121 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to facilitate medical card holders who are handicapped or who have a lifelong illness to provide a long-term medical card in order that they can avoid the trouble of applying each year to have their card renewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16592/02]

I have no plans to introduce arrangements along the lines suggested by the Deputy. The proper administration of the GMS scheme requires health boards to carry out periodic reviews of all medical card holders in order to satisfy themselves that the card holders continue to be eligible for services under the scheme. Such reviews are conducted in a manner that takes due account of the personal circumstances of the card holder

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

1122 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that laser treatment of a patient's eyes which serves to rectify false vision is not currently available to public patients who hold the medical card; if he will review the exclusion of such treatment from public cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16593/02]

The GMS scheme is a treatment based scheme which provides a range of services to medical card holders. In instances where, as part of a prescribed treatment protocol, referral to specialist services is deemed necessary, these specialist services should be provided for the patient in the normal public out-patient clinics or as a public inpatient.

The ultimate decision in relation to the determination of the eligibility of a medical card holder to a particular course of treatment or therapy is the responsibility of the chief executive officer of the relevant health board.

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