Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1058. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE is differentiating between cancer patients with and without terminal cancer in the assessment of eligibility for discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45881/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The HSE has a system in place for the provision of discretionary emergency medical cards for patients who are seriously ill and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford. These are issued within 24 hours of receipt of the required patient details and a letter which confirms the medical condition from a doctor or consultant. With the exception of terminally ill patients in palliative care, all emergency cards are issued on the basis that the patient is eligible for a medical card on the basis of means or undue hardship, and will follow up with a full application within a number of weeks of receiving the emergency card.

The arrangement is slightly different for persons with a terminal illness in palliative care. The nature of the terminal illness is not a deciding factor in the issue of an emergency medical card in these circumstances and no means test applies. Emergency medical cards are issued to a named individual, with a limited eligibility period of six months.