Written Answers Nos. 177-189
178. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as they were previously the holder of a medical card on a discretionary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39045/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
179. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the position regarding medical card holders being charged for routine blood tests by either the general practitioner or the practice health nurse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39053/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo person covered by the GMS Scheme should be charged for routine phlebotomy services provided by their GP or the Practice Nurse on behalf of their GP which are required to either assist in the diagnosis of a patient or to monitor a diagnosed condition. For patients who have been charged in such circumstances, the HSE has put in place the following procedure:
The patient should forward his or her receipt for the charge to the HSE's local Primary Care Unit. The HSE will, in turn, inform the GP that where he/she inappropriately charges GMS patients for phlebotomy services, he/she is in breach of their contract. The HSE will also deduct an equivalent amount from its routine payments to the GP and will make a refund to the patient.
180. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding health concerns associated with water fluoridation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39056/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe level of fluoride in drinking water in Ireland has been set at between 0.6-0.8 parts per million. This level of fluoride is deemed optimal for protecting the oral health of all age groups. European Council Directive 98/83 allows for a maximum permitted concentration of fluoride in drinking water up to 1.5mg/litre (or parts per million), almost twice the maximum level permitted in Ireland. In 2011 a review by the European Union Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risk (SCHER) concluded that there are no known negative health implications from fluoridating water at levels used in the EU. The balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, i.e. the adjustment of the natural concentration of fluoride in drinking water to the optimal recommended level for the prevention of dental caries, does not cause any ill effects and protects the oral health of the population.
The Department of Health keeps the policy of water fluoridation under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation at its current level on the health of the population and on the environment is being conducted by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department. This review is due to be completed by the end of this year.
181. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health where the fluoride used in the Irish water supply comes from (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39057/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2013 the cost of supply and delivery of hydrofluorosilicic acid (HFSA), the chemical used for fluoridating water, was €1.7 million. The HFSA is sourced from Derivados del Fluor (DDF) in Spain and supplied and delivered by Chemifloc, a company based in Shannon, Co Clare.
182. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the review of the Health Research Board into international evidence on water fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39058/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health keeps the policy of water fluoridation under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation at its current level on the health of the population and on the environment is being conducted by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department. The report is due to be completed by the end of this year.
183. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the services used by the State to prevent the use of illegal drugs and treat those addicted to drugs in County Meath for each of the past four years. [39065/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with the National Drugs Strategy, the Health Service Executive has developed a national treatment and rehabilitation service which provides drug free and harm reduction approaches and is capable of dealing with all substances. In addition, Drug and Alcohol Task Forces play a key role in assessing the extent and nature of the drug problem in their areas and coordinating action at local level so that there is a targeted response to the drug problem in local communities. The North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NERDATF) covers counties Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan.
Details of the funding allocated to the NERDATF from the Drugs Initiative of my Department from 2011 to 2013 are set out in the following table. In relation to 2014, operational and financial responsibility for all NERDATF projects was transferred to the HSE on 1st January 2014.
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
1,010,546.00 |
986,091.00 |
956,508.00 |
I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the services it provides in County Meath in each of the past four years.
184. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if the Government levy on chemists for prescription tuberculosis medication was correct or incorrect. [39099/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrescription charges are part of a set of measures introduced by Government in recent years to reduce pharmaceutical drugs expenditure. Medical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family.
I understand however that the case in question refers to a private transaction. Neither the Minister for Health nor the Health Service Executive has any power to set the prices of drugs and medicines purchased by private patients.
The HSE advises the public that if they are being charged prices which exceed the reimbursement price listed on the HSE website (http://www.pcrs.ie/), plus a dispensing fee of between €3.50 and €5, then they should discuss the differential with their pharmacist to ensure they get the best possible price for the medicine concerned.
185. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health when the community medical consulting and community health meeting rooms will open for public use at Beech House, Naas Business Park, Maudlings, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39105/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation of HSE accommodation for public use is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
186. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the reinstatement of orthopist services in Dungarvan Hospital, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39123/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
187. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a new wheelchair in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39125/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
189. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the outcome of the investigations by his Department and-or the Health Service Executive into financial irregularities at a company (details supplied), with particular reference to the cost to public funds of inappropriate expenditure by, or on behalf of, this company and-or its directors. [39128/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE Internal Audit Division has undertaken an audit of the company concerned and it is currently finalising the audit report.
The HSE discontinued funding to the company concerned in March 2014 because of its lack of confidence in the overall corporate governance of the organisation and its ability to manage public funding responsibly.
The HSE continues to provide every Health (Amendment) Act cardholder with the best possible support and assistance in accessing their healthcare services to ensure that the needs of the patients infected with hepatitis C are met in an appropriate way.
