Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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546. To ask the Minister for Health when persons who are on the long term illness scheme will be allowed to automatically qualify for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33410/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. There are currently two categories of eligibility for all persons ordinarily resident in Ireland i.e. full eligibility (medical card) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined mainly by reference to income limits and is granted to persons who, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive, are unable to provide general practitioner, medical and surgical services to themselves and their dependents without undue hardship. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with any specific illness.

The Long Term Illness Scheme provides those persons, suffering from prescribed conditions, who are not already medical card holders, with free drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances for the treatment of that condition. Medical card holders are required to pay prescription charges. Prescription charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. The Government has no plans to provide an automatic entitlement to a medical card to patients with specific long term illnesses.

However, the Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its first term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government’s health reform programme. The current Government is the first in the history of this State to have committed itself to implementing a universal GP service for the entire population.