Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I assure the Deputy that we have already taken the initiative on rural transport and are working with the HSE and the NTA on the parts of rural Ireland where people experience difficulties in trying to travel to hospital appointments. We will be able to develop cost savings through such an initiative.

On foot of the Keane report, the HSE established a clinical advisory group to develop clinical oversight and guidance for the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system. The group includes patients' representatives and is continuing its work on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. In the context of that work, the group made an interim recommendation, as Deputy Naughten stated, to award medical cards to all children under the age of 18 years with a diagnosis of cancer for a period of five years. This decision was accepted by the HSE director general.

The existing assessment system is complex because it tries to ensure that a wide range of personal circumstances can be taken into account. We are still committed to further improving the existing system and the work of the Comptroller and Auditor General will be central to this in the immediate future. In the medium term, I believe that we should focus on the strategic goal of universal health care, which will benefit everybody.

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