Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Health the current status of the promised medical cards for children diagnosed with cancer; the number of children to whom cards have been issued; if some children have been refused and if so the reason; if others have been delayed, and the reason; his plans on extending medical entitlement to other children with serious conditions and illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42903/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Clinical Advisory Group was established by the HSE to provide clinical oversight and guidance to the operation of a more compassionate and trusted medical card system following the findings of the 2014 Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility.

The Director General of the HSE, on accepting an interim recommendation of the Group, made a decision to award medical card eligibility to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer from 1 July 2015, with the card to be held for a period of five years. The Director General decided that the interim recommendation was to be incorporated in the guidelines for deciding officers in respect of discretionary awarding of eligibility.

The Clinical Advisory Group is continuing its work on the development of guidance on assessing medical card applications involving significant medical conditions. Having regard to the approach of the "Keane" Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibility that it is not feasible, desirable, or ethically justifiable to list medical conditions for medical card eligibility and in advance of the Clinical Advisory Group completing its work, I do not propose to issue automatic medical cards to one particular group.

As the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) of the HSE operates the medical card system, I have asked that they examine the queries raised and reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.