Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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306. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the changes to the long-term illness scheme in chapter 47 of Management of the Health Service Executive Vote: Health Service Executive Update June 2012, which outlines that long-term illness patients will be provided with a general practitioner visit card in place of long-term illness cards; the way their medication costs and medical appliances costs will be covered; if those patients with these cards will still be eligible for medication at general medical services level charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16614/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Government, in the recent Statement of Government Priorities, has reiterated its commitment to the introduction of a universal GP service for the entire population in line with the Programme for Government. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government’s health reform programme. The original intention was to start with those on the long-term illness scheme. The view was then taken that this would entail putting in place a cumbersome legal and administrative infrastructure to deal with what would have been only a temporary first phase on the way to universal GP service to the entire population.

Having considered this matter the Government announced in Budget 2014 its decision to commence the roll-out of a universal GP service for the entire population by initially providing all children under 6 years with access to a GP service without fees. An expert group was subsequently appointed to list illnesses or diseases in order, that is, from those which should be counted first and be provided with coverage to those that would be covered later. The group found it would be unjust, unethical and impractical to create a hierarchy of diseases and a list of illnesses in order stating one was more severe than the next.

The Government chose the under-6s and over-70s as the initial phases for the introduction of a universal GP service simply because they are the youngest and oldest in society and the ones who need to see their GP most often. This service will commence during the summer subject to the passing of the necessary legislation in respect of the over-70s which has now passed Second Stage in this House. These phases are being achieved in parallel with an extension in coverage for chronic disease, starting with asthma among children and diabetes among adults.

The current operation of the Long Term Illness Scheme remains in place for all eligible persons.