Results 4,681-4,700 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Health: Chronic Disease Management Programme (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The National Clinical Programme for Asthma, which commenced in 2011, is one of a number of chronic disease programmes established in the HSE's Clinical Care Directorate aimed at bringing a systematic approach to changes in how services for patients are delivered. Current estimates suggest that there are approximately 450,000 people with doctor-diagnosed asthma in Ireland. The initial focus...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Strategy (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 27 and 275 together. The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. It is a matter for Government to determine policy in this area. There has been no Government decision, at this stage on the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The prices of drugs vary between countries for a number of reasons, including different prices set by manufacturers, different wholesale and pharmacy mark-ups, different dispensing fees and different rates of VAT. The State has introduced a series of reforms in recent years to reduce pharmaceutical prices and expenditure. These have resulted in reductions in the prices of thousands of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, which came into operation on the 24th of June, introduces a system of generic substitution and reference pricing. This legislation will promote price competition among suppliers and ensure that lower prices are paid for these medicines resulting in further savings for both taxpayers and patients. Under the Act, the Irish Medicines...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons of any age with a specific illness, such as cancer. However, under the legislation, there is provision...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The HSE has commissioned an independent review of orthodontic services. The outcome of this review, which is near completion, will give guidance as to what changes will be desirable to provide the best possible model of care delivery, given the current resources available and future demand for services.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Numbers (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I have been advised by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service that it is unaware of any incident where a medical card has been cancelled or withdrawn without any notice. If you have a particular instance, you should forward the medical card number or PPS number of the person concerned and PCRS will investigate further. In circumstance where eligibility is rescinded following a review...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug Rehabilitation Clinics (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Report of the Working Group on Drug Rehabilitation (2007) defined rehabilitation in terms of 'providing a continuum of care to problem drug users, enabling them to address their needs as most appropriate for them. These needs may include health, social, housing, employment, education and /or vocational'. Arising from this report and in line with the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Water Fluoridation (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Water fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. In 2002 the Forum on Fluoridation, which was established to review this policy, concluded that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. One of the recommendations of the Forum was to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Issues (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 257 together. As the Deputy will be aware, I announced details of a series of measures last December arising from a review of Drugs Task Forces and the national structures under which they operate.   These measures included the extension of the remit of the Task Forces to include alcohol addiction and the establishment of a National Coordinating...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: Considerable progress is being made in the delivery of primary care centres. 32 Primary Care Centres have opened since May 2011. The delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process and must take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementing the delivery of the centres by means of lease, direct- build or PPP. GP engagement and agreement to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Primary Care Centres Provision (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, together. The HSE has responsibility for the provision of Primary Care Centres and the operation and maintenance of existing health centres. Therefore, these matters have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: At 1st September 2013, 1,987,423 people have free access to GP services under the GMS Scheme which equates to over 43% of the national population. Of these, 1,863,062 people hold medical cards, 53,888 of which are discretionary. This equates to 40.5% of the national population. Medical cards statistics over the previous five years are outlined below. Date No. of Medical Cards No. of...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme Administration (26 Sep 2013)

Alex White: The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (1 Oct 2013)

Alex White: Medical Card and GP Visit Card applications are processed in accordance with the Medical Card and GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines. The Guidelines were revised and up-dated in May 2013 and are available to access on the HSE.ie website. The current National Assessment Guidelines state that persons aged between 16 and 25 years may have entitlement to a medical card/GP visit card...