John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Like Senator Mary Ann O'Brien, I was outraged to read in the national media that cancer patients were being charged ¤75 for chemotherapy. I wish to put something straight. Under the Health Acts, if a person goes to hospital, he or she is charged ¤75 on admission. If he or she stays in hospital for a period of up to ten days, he or she pays ¤75 each day. After ten days, even if a person has to stay in hospital for an entire year and does not have a medical card, there is no further charge. I refer to outpatient services. If a person who does not have a medical card attends to undergo chemotherapy, he or she must pay ¤75. For repeat visits in respect of the same illness the person concerned should not have to pay a further ¤75. This is an underhand charge introduced by the HSE. I do not believe it is legal and it is certainly not justifiable. There are very many people who potentially have terminal cancer and the stress this will cause them must be taken into account. The HSE must rethink. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to consult it and come to the House to tell us whether this charge is justifiable?