Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2015
161. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a person who holds a long-term illness card and a medical card is entitled to a waiver of the prescription levy in respect of all medicines dispensed to that person, or only in respect of medicines for illnesses covered by the scheme. [43209/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme. The conditions covered by the LTI Scheme are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
A person holding an active LTI book is not required to pay prescription charges for medicines dispensed under the LTI Scheme and directly related to the specific illness covered by the scheme. Medicines dispensed to the same person under the General Medical Services (medical card) Scheme are subject to a prescription charge of €2.50 per item, with a monthly cap of €25 per person or family.
