Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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170. To ask the Minister for Health his views on expanding the medical card scheme to cover alternative medicines and treatments for persons suffering from multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8518/15]

Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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171. To ask the Minister for Health his views on expanding the medical card scheme to cover alternative medicines and treatments for persons suffering with progressive diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8519/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together.

Medical card holders are eligible to access drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances which are on the Reimbursement List as provided for under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

Schedule 3 Part 1 of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 sets out the criteria applicable to medicinal products which can be listed as items on the Reimbursement List. It states that the medicinal product -

(a) Must be suitable for use under the supervision of a general medical practitioner or other relevant health professional and not be restricted to hospital or medical specialist use,

(b) Subject to paragraph 2 must not be advertised or promoted directly to the public

(c) Must not be for the purpose of obtaining a cosmetic effect

(d) Must be such that it is ordinarily supplied to the public only on foot of a prescription, and

(e) Must have a marketing authorisation referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of ‘authorisation holder’ in section 2(1).

If alternative medicines and treatments for persons suffering from multiple sclerosis and progressive diseases do not meet these criteria then they are not eligible for addition to the Reimbursement List to be available and accessed under the medical card scheme.