Results 6,501-6,520 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I thank Deputy Kitt for raising this issue for discussion today which I am taking on behalf the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. Tuam mental health services cater for the Tuam and Headford catchment areas with a population of approximately 35,000 and a caseload in excess of 800 individuals. Traditionally the service was provided at St. Brigid's Hospital in east Galway, but...

Other Questions: Medicinal Products (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: There has been considerable progress in the broader area. On the question of the agreements with the industry, savings have been made, although not as quickly as all of us would have hoped. The agreements have been put in place and will yield considerable benefits to the taxpayer and patients in the year ahead. I thank Deputies Kelleher and Ó Caoláin and the other Deputies who...

Other Questions: Medicinal Products (19 Dec 2012)

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. In recent years, a number of changes to the pricing and reimbursement system have been successfully introduced in Ireland. These have resulted in reductions in the prices of...

Other Questions: Medicinal Products (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The Deputy's two questions are one. The generic substitution regime is to be governed by the legislation to which the Deputy referred. The legislation itself does not purport to arrange these substitutions. It gives the Irish Medicines Board the power to do so and the regime is set out in the legislation. The legislation is required for that to be achieved, as the Deputy is aware. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The issue in regard to the inpatient charge, although related, is essentially a separate matter to the question of the discretionary allocation of medical cards on the basis of an applicant having a specific medical condition. There has never been an automatic entitlement to a medical card, even where a person is diagnosed with a debilitating and deeply stressful ailment, including cancer....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: At the risk of irritating the Deputy in regard to this sensitive issue, I am obliged to reiterate that there never was an automatic entitlement to a medical card for cancer patients.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: That continues to be the case. If the Deputy is aware of particular instances where this has not happened, we will be happy to examine them. We cannot, hand on heart, offer an absolute guarantee that every such application will be dealt with in an expeditious way, but it certainly should be. It is not clear to me that there has been the type of fundamental change in practice or approach...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medicinal Products (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: My Department has been informed by the Irish Medicines Board, IMB, that it is in receipt of a market authorisation request from a manufacturer under the European Union's mutual recognition procedure for a medicinal product containing cannabis extract. This product is indicated for the relief of symptoms of spasticity for people with multiple sclerosis. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medicinal Products (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The Deputy raises a very fair point. There is no undue delay in regard to this issue, on which I was briefed when I assumed office. I assure the Deputy that the matter is progressing. We have our own processes in this jurisdiction and cannot rely on licensing systems that are in place in other jurisdictions, although we can certainly have regard to them. The Minister and I are absolutely...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medicinal Products (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: We have the very best technical advice available to us both inside and outside the Department. Matters such as the Deputy raised are reviewed as they arise.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. There are two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland, those being, full eligibility, which relates to the medical card, and limited eligibility, which applies to everyone else. Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Counterfeit Medicine (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 17 together. The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is responsible for the regulation of medicines in Ireland. It works with all stakeholders, including the industry and law enforcement agencies, to ensure as far as possible that counterfeit or falsified medicines do not reach the public. IMB enforcement officers work in cooperation with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: Due to the current financial climate, it is necessary to identify measures to mitigate the escalating costs of the medical card scheme for both the over 70's cohort and the under 70's cohort. The changes to income limits for the over 70's, which were announced in Budget 2013, will affect about 5% of the entire over 70's population, which is in the region of 20,000 of the 360,000 over-70's...

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: On Budget Day, Dr. James Reilly T.D., Minister for Health announced that the fees/allowances payable to health professionals will be reviewed under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. The professionals concerned are General Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians who hold contracts with the HSE, Smeartakers...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Prescription Charges (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 58 together. Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment the Government has committed to achieving additional savings in health expenditure during 2013 and 2014 with €781m savings targeted in 2013. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means.There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others).Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits, and is granted to persons...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drugs Payment Scheme (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 34 together. 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. In recent years, a number of changes to the pricing and reimbursement system have been successfully introduced in Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 76 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: The number of persons eligible for a medical card at end-September 2012 is 1,836,689. The information for 2013 will form part of the Health Service Executive 2013 National Service Plan, which is required to be published on foot of the Executive's allocation under the Estimates 2013 process.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (19 Dec 2012)

Alex White: New eligibility rules for medical cards for persons aged over 70 years were announced in the Budget 2013. The income thresholds would be reduced and the higher income over-70s will receive a GP visit card instead of a medical card. The new rules will not take effect until later in 2013, after primary legislation has been enacted. The implementation date will be announced and publicised in...