Thursday, 9 Jun 2016

Written Answers Nos. 136-145

Medical Card Expenditure

Ceisteanna (136)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

136. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of extending a medical card to all children who are in receipt of a payment under the domiciliary care allowance scheme. [15120/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the HSE, unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Where deemed appropriate in particular circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card even though an applicant's means exceed the prescribed threshold. Where a person does not qualify for a medical card, they may be provided with a GP Visit Card, appropriate therapy or other community supports or drugs.

The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) payment is made by the Minister for Social Protection to carers in respect of a child at home under 16 years of age with a severe disability, where it has been determined that the child requires ongoing care and attention, substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government states "We will extend the entitlement to a medical card for all children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance in Budget 2017. Approximately 10,000 children would benefit from this initiative." This a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the Health commitments in the Programme for Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.  Detailed financial analysis will be required in order to establish as accurately as possible the expected costs to the Exchequer in each case.

Medicinal Products Expenditure

Ceisteanna (137, 138, 139)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

137. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year savings of immediately setting the ex-factory price for new pharmaceuticals, subject to patent protection, at the price in the lowest priced comparator member state of the European Union. [15121/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

138. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year savings that would be realised by immediately introducing generic substitutions for the 60 most commonly used off-patent medications, excluding anti-epileptic drugs, based on reference pricing at 70% below the branded equivalent, by cost and by volume. [15122/16]

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

139. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year savings that would be realised from sourcing the 20 most expensive and the 20 most common on-patent pharmaceuticals from the European Union member state with the lowest cost for the drug, by parallel import. [15123/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 139, inclusive, together.

It is not feasible to provide a robust estimate of savings from a reduction in the price of branded medicines to the lowest European Union level, as the price of each dosage form and strength would need to be assessed and compared with pricing data from all of the other member states. In addition, the HSE must consider continuity and security of supply in setting prices. Accordingly, the lowest EU price of an individual product may not always represent the best pricing point for Irish patients.

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore the remaining matters have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.

If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up these matters with them.

Health Services Staff Data

Ceisteanna (140)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

140. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year cost of employing ten community physiotherapists and hospital physiotherapists at entry level, at the levels of five years experience and at ten years experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15125/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Health Services Staff Data

Ceisteanna (141)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

141. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year cost of employing ten speech and language therapists at entry level, at the levels of five years experience and at ten years experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15126/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Health Services Staff Data

Ceisteanna (142)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

142. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year cost of employing ten occupational therapists, at entry level, at the levels of five years experience and at ten years experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15127/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Hospital Staff Data

Ceisteanna (143)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

143. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year cost of employing ten consultants averaged across the specialties and experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15128/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Ambulance Service Data

Ceisteanna (144)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

144. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year cost of employing and equipping one ambulance with its complement of personnel and support staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15129/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Health Services Staff Data

Ceisteanna (145)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

145. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the full year cost of ten suicide crisis assessment nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15130/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Helen McEntee)

As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.