Written answers
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Department of Health
Medical Card Eligibility
Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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506. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing a health amendment card for Magdalen laundry survivors; to define the entitlements under the current scheme particularly in relation to aids, appliances and medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20665/16]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As part of a support package, including a range of financial payments, that was approved by Government for former residents of Magdalen Laundries, eligibility for health services for the Magdalen women is provided by the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015. The Act sets out the primary and community health services made available, free of charge, to qualifying women. The health services included in the legislation are: a general practitioner service; prescribed drugs, medicines, aids and appliances; dental, ophthalmic and aural services; home nursing; home support; chiropody; physiotherapy; and counselling services. In addition, the prescription fee is not be payable for all medicines, medical devices or other medical products that are reimbursed by the community drug schemes. A specific card has been issued to the qualifying women so that they can access the health services they require without charge, as set out in the Act.
The Deputy may be aware that the Health (Amendment) Act 1996 (HAA) provides primary and community health services for people who contracted Hepatitis C from the use of State blood or blood products. The HAA card was introduced to ensure that people infected by Hepatitis C would be able to access primary and community services to help treat the symptoms of Hepatitis C, irrespective of whether they qualified for a medical card or not.
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