Results 6,241-6,260 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Other Questions: Health Service Reform (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: I can pass him a copy of it. He should ask Deputy Shortall about it.

Other Questions: Health Service Executive Savings (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: With regard to the regional business plans, quite clearly what is intended is that the HSE service plan which has been published requires a working out at regional level and obviously that work is still ongoing. It was not done by the end of January, but its completion is imminent and will be dealt with in due course. I accept it is two weeks since the end of January, but I am sure the...

Other Questions: Health Service Executive Savings (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: We will do that.

Other Questions: Prescription Charges (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: Let there be no misunderstanding. I have no difficulty understanding the point. The Deputy said it was simple. I understand entirely the issue being raised. However, I have said I need some more detail to get to the bottom of it and that is what I am asking the Deputy for. It may appear and sound straightforward in the way it is described but I need further information. I understand...

Other Questions: Prescription Charges (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment, the Government approved an increase in the prescription charge from 50 cent per item to €1.50 per item with effect from 1 January 2013, subject to a cap of €19.50 per month for each person or family, for prescribed drugs, medicines and appliances reimbursed under the general medical services, GMS, scheme. Further...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: The medical card scheme cost in excess of €1.9 billion in 2012 and, by the end of 2012, 1.85 million people were covered by the scheme, an increase of half a million people since 2008. It is expected that the total will reach 1.9 million by the end of this year. Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, medical cards are not awarded on the basis of having a specific illness or a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: This is an important issue and it has been addressed. I can give the Deputy some further information on this important question. There are currently 62,987 discretionary medical cards in circulation out of a total of 1.85 million medical cards. New processes have been commenced in respect of applications for discretionary medical cards. It is important to recall that sometimes there is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: The current average turnaround time for discretionary medical card applications is now 20 working days. I have further information on the broader application of the scheme which I can make available to the Deputy.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: I cannot disagree with much of what Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan has said, with one exception, that is, on the question that has come up from time to time as to why the Government did not ask for a write-down and the suggestion one might have been available had the Government simply asked for it. Let us examine this suggestion. Let us imagine the Government and the Central Bank are in...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: He does not have it.

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 320 together. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a new General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) contract with an increased emphasis on the management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. It is envisaged that the new contract, when finalised, will focus on prevention and will...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Products (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill, the Irish Medicines Board has statutory responsibility for establishing and publishing a List of Interchangeable Medicinal Products. In deciding whether to add a group of medicinal products to the List of Interchangeable Medicinal Products, the Board must be satisfied that each medicinal product which falls within the group: (a)...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Medical Services Scheme (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: A Clinician Led Multi-disciplinary Medicines Management Programme has been established to provide national leadership on issues relating to quality of medicines management processes, access to medicines and cost of medicines. As part of this work, those products that are less suitable for prescribing will be identified and considered for delisting in compliance with the Health  (Pricing...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: Separate reports in 2009 by FÁS, ESRI and the Competition Authority and in 2010 by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children referred to the General Practitioner (GP) manpower issue and stated that 120 training places per year were not sufficient to meet the demands of a growing and ageing population. They recommended that the number of GP training places be increased to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Staff (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: On Budget Day, it was announced that the fees and allowances payable to certain health professionals will be reviewed. The professionals concerned are General Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians who hold contracts with the HSE, Smeartakers contracted under the CervicalCheck programme and Consultant Psychiatrists who hold contracts...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Expenditure (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: Following intensive negotiations involving the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), the HSE and the Department of Health, a major new deal on the cost of drugs in the State was concluded in October last. It will deliver a number of important benefits, including - significant reductions for patients in the cost of drugs, - a lowering of the drugs bill to the State, -...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: As part of Budget 2013, it was announced that the income thresholds for medical cards for the over 70’s age group are to be changed. The intention is that persons aged 70 years and over, whose gross weekly income is not more than €600 in the case of single persons and €1,200 in the case of couples, will qualify for full eligibility (medical cards); persons aged 70 years...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012 was published on the 13th of July 2012. e Bill completed its passage through the Seanad on Wednesday, the 19th of September, and completed Second Stage in the Dáil on the 17th of December. It is anticipated that the Bill will continue its passage through the Dáil within the next few weeks. An Implementation Group on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Executive Staff (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: Preparations for the national roll out of the Integrated Care Diabetes Programme are at an advanced stage. The HSE has begun to recruit 17 Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists to support the phased roll out of the Diabetes Programme. Funding for these posts was confirmed in the HSE's National Service Plan for 2013. The Diabetes Nurse Specialists will spend four days per week working...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (14 Feb 2013)

Alex White: The Programme for Government commits to reforming the current public health system by introducing Universal Health Insurance with equal access to care for all. As part of this, the Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, GP care without fees within its first term of office. Primary legislation is required to give effect to the Government commitment to introduce a universal...