Under the Health Act 1970, a health board may make arrangements for the supply without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to persons suffering from any of the following conditions, who are not already medical card holders, for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme: mental handicap, mental illness in the case of 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 who suffer from any of these illnesses may apply to their local health board for admission to the long-term illness scheme. There is no appeal system in place for persons whose illness is not included in the list of illnesses covered by the long-term illness scheme.
Myasthenia Gravis is not one of the illnesses covered by the terms of the long-term illness scheme.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide. In determining eligibility, the chief executive officer has regard to the applicant's financial circumstances. Health boards use income guidelines to assist in determining eligibility. However, where a person's income exceeds the guidelines, a medical card may be awarded if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis. An applicant who is refused a medical card may appeal the decision to the chief executive officer of the relevant health board.
Non-medical card holders and people with conditions not covered under the long-term illness scheme can use the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €70 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
