Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for staying on. He has had a very long afternoon here and has given comprehensive replies to all our questions. I felt it was more appropriate to raise this matter with him through an Adjournment debate rather than to bring it up during the statements. I refer to the i-port Advance medical device. There is no need for me to tell the Minister what it is with his background in medicine, but for the record of the House I should explain that this is a cannula device that is attached to a child. It administers the insulin shots for them via this port. The port is replaced every three days. Its use results in injections and skin piercings being reduced from 120 per month to just ten. It is revolutionary and has been in use in America for years. It was introduced in Ireland on 1 June but it is not covered under the general medical services, GMS, scheme or the long-term illness scheme. It is very expensive to buy, costing about €200.

Just a few moments ago, the Minister referred to health insurance covering the cost of items. Health insurance in Ireland does not cover pump training, insulin pumps or i-ports. There is a device called a continuous glucose monitor, CGM, which can be attached to the body. It takes a reading every five minutes and transmits that information to an external device. This is excellent for keeping a close eye on blood glucose levels. In the United States, insurance companies cover the cost of these, but in Ireland they can only be obtained through a hospital and they are expensive, so the HSE only gives them out on a loan basis, for a week, to check blood glucose patterns. I understand there is a petition going around by parents, especially for children with type 1 diabetes, for this i-port to be included in the GMS or the long-term illness scheme as are other diabetic services. It would reduce the discomfort and pain that children get from injecting their skin up to four times a day or 120 times a month.