Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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58. To ask the Minister for Health if he will examine the provision of a medical card until recovery to persons on the diagnosis of cancer in view of the fact that the costs associated with a diagnosis are extensive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27847/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A key recommendation of the 2014 Report of the Expert Panel on Medical Need for Medical Card Eligibilitywas that a person’s means should remain the main qualifier for a medical card. The report also concluded that it is neither feasible nor desirable to list conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. Therefore, medical card provision is solely based on financial assessment. Under the legislation, having a particular illness, in itself, does not establish eligibility for a medical card.

However, in the assessment of applications the HSE seeks, within the framework of the legislation, to exercise discretion. In that regard the HSE assesses the financial, social and medical circumstances of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. This assessment informs the decisions taken by the HSE on whether to award a medical card on a discretionary basis.

Also, on foot of the Expert Panel's Report, the HSE established a Clinical Advisory Group to develop clinical oversight and guidance for the operation of the medical card system. This Group has been working on the development of an assessment form which will seek to capture the additional financial costs associated with an illness, including cancer, and which will assist the HSE in exercising its discretion. The Group also made a recommendation in 2015, which was accepted by the Director General of the HSE, to award a medical card to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer. The card will be held for 5 years to cover the average period of the acute illness, treatment and recovery.