Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not in a position to accept the amendments within the Bill. However, I am very happy to discuss the matter with the Deputy and with members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health before the budget, if that works. Amendment No. 8 relates specifically to inpatient charges for cancer patients. We looked at the issue in respect of the provision of medical cards. Some asked whether cancer patients should be provided with medical cards. A good piece of work was done on the issue, which I am sure the Deputy is familiar with, looking at different categories of diseases. The finding was that from an ethical perspective, we should not create any hierarchy of diseases. For example, should we abolish inpatient charges for cancer patients, but not for motor neurone disease patients or others? I am looking at an extension of the abolition of inpatient charges more generally. The way I think we should proceed on it is not on the basis of a patient having a particular disease. With medical cards, provision is not based on a patient having a particular disease. It is based on other criteria, such as age and income. I hope that suffices.

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