Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the programme for Government and in keeping with the confidence and supply agreement, we very much welcome the extension of the roll out of discretionary medical cards to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. However, a review of the prescription drugs prescribed to children in receipt of domiciliary care allowances is needed, as some of those drugs are not covered under this scheme. One such drug is melatonin, which I am advised is very important for those children suffering from this condition. I ask the Minister to have a review carried out to have this drug included. On foot of a question I tabled to the Department, the HSE came back and said that it would not include it, yet I have been told by experts in the medical field and by parents that this is a drug that needs to be included.

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