Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1341. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding medical cards in respect of persons with motor neurone disease (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37305/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Medical cards are provided to persons who, under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, are in the opinion of the HSE unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. Under the legislation, determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE.

While there is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with specific illnesses, such as motor neurone disease, the HSE has, however, discretion to award a medical card to avoid undue hardship, even where the person exceeds the income guidelines. At the request of the Minister, the HSE set up a clinical panel to assist in the processing of applications for medical cards on a discretionary basis, where a person exceeds the income guidelines but there are difficult personal circumstances, such as an illness.

The HSE have examined their medical card database to identify the number of patients with Motor Neurone disease and identified 286 clients in respect of whom the medication "Rilutek" has been dispensed in the twelve months to June 2013 and this figure correlates with the figure of 300 Motor Neurone patients nationally. Of these clients, 234 have a full medical card and the balance avail of the Drugs Payment Scheme to cover the excess of €144 per month.

Minister Reilly and myself are very much aware of the difficulties facing patients with Motor Neurone Disease and the Medical Officers in the HSE are taking all of these difficulties and costs into account when considering clients for eligibility for a medical card. However, as outlined earlier, the governing criteria in relation to medical cards is to ensure that patients who are unable to provide for their medical and surgical requirements without undue hardship are provided with such services.