Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 210: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the illnesses covered under the long-term illness scheme; the criteria for inclusion in the scheme; when the last illnesses were added to the scheme; and the names of these illnesses. [30240/04]

Beverley Flynn (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 211: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons that benefit under the long-term illness scheme. [30241/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.

Under the Health Act 1970, a health board may arrange for the supply, without charge, of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to people with a specified condition, for the treatment of that condition under the long-term illness scheme. The conditions are mental handicap, mental illness for people under 16 only, phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, haemophilia, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, parkinsonism, conditions arising from thalidomide and acute leukaemia. Parkinsonism, acute leukaemia, muscular dystrophies and multiple sclerosis were added to the scheme in 1975. The average monthly number of claimants under the long-term illness scheme in the year ending 31 December 2003 was 32,720.

The scheme was designed to protect patients with a specified condition from excessive drug bills for the treatment of that condition. Following the establishment of the general medical services scheme in 1971 to provide free treatment for those who could not without undue hardship arrange to provide it for themselves and their dependants, various co-payment schemes have been introduced to provide assistance towards the cost of approved drugs and medicines for people with significant ongoing medical expenses, without restriction to the treatment of a particular condition. Since 1999, non-medical card holders and people with conditions not covered under the long-term illness scheme have been able to use the drugs payment scheme. Under this scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €78 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The monthly threshold is due to increase to €85 from 1 January 2005.

In light of the protection provided from excessive drug costs by the general medical services and drugs payment schemes, there are no plans to amend the list of eligible conditions under the long-term illness scheme.