Results 16,881-16,900 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (18 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive have taken a number of steps in recent years to reduce the State's medicines bill. Measures have included multi-million euro price reductions and substantial reductions in pharmacists fees and other supply chain costs. The current pricing mechanism agreement between the HSE and Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association expires on...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (18 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.

Community Employment Schemes (18 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for raising this matter. I am aware of her active interest in this issue and I commend her on the work she is doing. We need more public representatives to get involved in addressing the many issues associated with drug misuse. I wish to stress that I am particularly focused on ensuring there is an increased emphasis on moving people from drug treatment to a...

Community Employment Schemes (18 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I take the Deputy's point about harm reduction but, overall, we must be more ambitious in terms of achieving a drug-free lifestyle as far as possible. I appreciate the Deputy's remarks. I am keen that the working group would meet again soon and that we would process this issue through that working group. Before this issue arose there was a question as to why we were not filling the full...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: Any undue delay in the processing of medical card applications and reviews is a matter of serious concern to me and I have held detailed discussions with the Health Service Executive on this issue. I have asked the HSE for a report on each of the issues raised by the GPs mentioned in the question and this is being worked on at present. I will be communicating with the GPs concerned once this...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (12 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (12 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I wish to advise the Deputy that the matter remains under consideration by the HSE and I shall inform the Deputy as soon as the process has been concluded.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As part of Budget 2012, a number of changes were announced in relation to concurrent payments of certain social welfare benefits. The changes relate to Community Employment schemes, the payment of two qualified child increases, and half-rate payments of Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit and Incapacity Supplement. As the Deputy is aware, the decision to award a medical card is made by the...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The Health Service Executive has confirmed that the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) issued 463,446 individuals a renewed medical card in 2011. The issues arising in respect of medical card renewals are a matter of concern to me, and I have held detailed discussions with the HSE. A medical card holder who genuinely engages with the review of their medical card should not have their...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: Since taking over the centralisation of the Medical Card scheme, six months ago, the HSE's Central Office is working to deal with some residual logistical problems which naturally arise with a project of this scale and magnitude. The issues arising in respect of medical card renewals are a matter of concern to me, and I have held detailed discussions with the HSE. A medical card holder who...

Written Answers — Primary Care Strategy: Primary Care Strategy (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The Government is embarking on a major programme of reform of the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service that will deliver equal access to care based on need rather than income. A fundamental element of the reform process involves significant strengthening of primary care services to deliver universal primary care with the removal of cost as a barrier to...

Written Answers — Primary Care Strategy: Primary Care Strategy (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 904 together. General Practitioners who hold GMS contracts with the HSE must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders for services covered under the GMS contract. For instance, in circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) diagnose a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, the GP may not charge...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The Health Service Executive has confirmed that the number of people with medical cards in December 2011 was 1,692,605. The figure in December 2010 was 1,611,138.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Drugs Payment Scheme: Drugs Payment Scheme (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Drug Payment Scheme is not readily available at this time. I have asked the HSE to supply this information and will forward it to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Pharmacy Regulations: Pharmacy Regulations (11 Jan 2012)

Róisín Shortall: A number of studies have estimated the prevalence and cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing for different groups of patients. However, there is no overall estimate of the cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing in Ireland. The HSE is implementing a range of initiatives to maximise the appropriate prescribing of medicines. These include working in partnership with key health...