Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of people estimated to suffer from asthma; and if free or subsidised medical treatment or drugs will be made available to these people. [4027/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As asthma is not a notifiable illness, information regarding its incidence is not routinely collected by the Department of Health and Children. People who cannot without undue hardship arrange for the provision of medical services for them and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. The Health Service Executive can take the medical costs incurred by an individual or a family into account as part of the assessment process. In November 2004, I introduced a new graduated benefit in the form of the GP visit card, which will extend free GP care and treatment to individuals and families on low incomes. In June 2005, I simplified the means test for medical and GP visit cards so it is now based on the income of an applicant and his or her spouse after income tax and PRSI. The means test now takes account of reasonable expenses incurred in respect of rent or mortgage payments, child care and travel to work. In October, I announced that the income guidelines for medical and GP visit cards would be increased by an additional 20%, which means the income guidelines are 29% higher than this time last year.

Such improvements have made the assessment process much fairer and ensure that people on low to moderate incomes can qualify for free GP care. Non-medical card holders can avail of the drug payment scheme, which protects against excessive medicine costs. Under the scheme, no individual or family unit pays more than €85 per calendar month, or approximately €20 per week, towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme, which is easy to use, significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines for the treatment of illnesses such as asthma. The Deputy will be aware that non-reimbursed medical expenses above a set threshold may be offset against tax.