Liam Twomey (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State should accept the amendment because those over the age of 70 are vulnerable to changes in prescribing practice. Although this area comes within the remit of HIQA, it is relevant to the Bill before us because of the specific implications for free health care. HIQA's mandate is similar to that of NICE in the UK in that it can legally restrict medication for people over the age of 70. A report should be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas setting out the economic and medical reasons for changing the types of medication available on the medical card.