Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Loughlin for raising this important matter. The long-term illness or LTI scheme was established under section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 and regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered under the scheme. For people who are not eligible to join the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs. Under the drug payment scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to try to reduce that maximum monthly threshold under the drug payment scheme and it is something I would like to do in future budgets. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines. People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may also be entitled to a medical card. They Deputy is well aware of the assessment process for the discretionary medical card, which can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Additionally, people may avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.

The LTI scheme is quite old and has not seen changes in many years. It is a scheme from the 1970s, with regulations from the early part of that decade. There are other ways in which we can try to address some of these issues. The €144 per month threshold of the drug payment scheme may be something we should look at in future budgets.

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