Written Answers Nos. 911-927
911. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the action taken by the HSE to address issues outlined (details supplied) by the general manager of University Hospital Waterford in correspondence dated 19 September 2017, relevant to a dialysis unit in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16056/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
912. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if medical cards will be issued to all persons with haemochromatosis based on their needs and requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16058/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE's Expert Group on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility examined the issue of awarding medical cards on the basis of illness and concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. The Expert Group also concluded that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card. This position remains unchanged.
Medical card provision is based on financial assessment. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. The Act obliges the HSE to assess whether a person is unable, without due hardship, to arrange general practitioner services for himself or herself and his or her family, having regard to his or her overall financial position and reasonable expenditure and every application must be assessed on that basis. Under the legislation, having a particular illness, in itself, does not establish eligibility for a medical card and therefore, the medical conditions of applicants for this scheme are not monitored on that basis. Where the applicant's income is within the income guidelines, a medical card or GP visit card will be awarded.
Every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card and, in particular, to take full account of the difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. It should be noted, in certain circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds his or her income threshold, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services. The HSE affords applicants the opportunity to furnish supporting information documentation to fully take account of all the relevant circumstances that may benefit them in the assessment, including medical evidence of cost and necessary expenses.
913. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the FreeStyle Libre blood glucose monitor will be made available based on clinical need for all persons with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16059/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
914. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 961 of 16 January 2018 and 419 of 6 February 2018, the position regarding the consideration by HSE estates at the HSE national capacity and property steering committee of the capital submission to address infrastructural and equipment issues at the 12 March 2018 meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16082/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE is responsible for the delivery of health care infrastructure and equipping, the Executive has been requested to reply directly to you in relation to this matter.
915. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the reason for excluding persons over 21 years of age with type 1 diabetes from accessing the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16089/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
916. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the status of his Department’s discussions with an association (details supplied) regarding the approval of amendments with respect to the implementation of the EU Directive 2013/59/EURATOM protection against ionising radiation. [16103/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department met with representatives of this association on 1 February this year to discuss the transposition of the medical provisions of the Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD) by my Department and whether chiropractors will be designated as referrers and practitioners in the transposing regulations. The previous regulations did not designate chiropractors as referrers or practitioners.
The statutory instrument transposing the BSSD will designate those who may refer for radiological tests, those who may carry them out and other functions and in this regard I propose to designate nurses, doctors, dentists and radiographers as appropriate. The proposed designation of relevant professionals is based on patient safety and public health considerations reflected in the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.
My Department will finalise the medical provisions of the BSSD in the coming weeks.
917. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the technical and legal issues which require clarification to allow Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Families Relationship Act 2015 to be commenced; the timeframe he is working to for the commencement of this Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16111/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of technical drafting issues have come to light in relation to Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. The implications of these issues are being explored by officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General and clarification on whether primary legislation is required to resolve these issues is being sought. In the event that primary legislation is required I would seek to deal with it as a matter of urgency.
918. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 12 December 2017, the status of his plans for the HSE to fund PrEP in view of the fact that these drugs became available for prescription from 4 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16112/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.
The 2013 Act does not give the Minister for Health any powers in this regard. The HSE does not require approval or consent from the Minister or Government when making a reimbursement decision.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.
The NCPE indicate that a HTA was commissioned by the HSE on Emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada®) on 19 July 2017. The NCPE are currently awaiting a submission from the applicant to conduct this assessment.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) currently has marketing authorisation in the EU and as such is available from pharmacies with a private prescription.
The HIV PrEP group continues to work towards the goal of ensuring that everyone in Ireland has access to adequate and effective HIV prevention and remains focused on making recommendations in relation to PrEP in Ireland and developing the necessary guidance to inform implementation.
919. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if opticians who provide eye tests for children between the ages of eight and 16 that are the holders of medical cards are entitled to claim a reimbursement for this service under the HSE's community ophthalmic services schemes; if he will instruct the HSE to provide clarity to opticians on this issue in view of anecdotal evidence that exists of medical card holders being charged for these eye tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16113/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
920. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if funds will be available to facilitate the creation of a rape crisis outreach centre in Navan, County Meath (details supplied). [16125/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have referred it to the HSE for a direct response.
921. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health if a building (details supplied) for respite services will be included in the commissioning of respite houses in 2018 in view of the fact that a section 39 service provider in County Wexford owns the building which was commissioned with HSE funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16128/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
922. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor is not being made available to persons over 21 years of age with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16129/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
923. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) will receive an appointment for dental surgery at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. [16136/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
924. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of a funding request for a hospital (details supplied); when he expects the request to be answered; the reason it has yet to be answered in view of the fact that same was submitted in summer 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16152/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
925. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will be placed in adult services. [16154/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
926. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the length of time the women's refuge in Rathgar has been closed; his plans to re-open same; his further plans to open other women's refuges in the Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16155/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question is a matter for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
927. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if home help will be provided for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16161/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
