Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Minister for Health if he will intervene with the HSE regarding a medical card renewal application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if his attention has been drawn to the tedious process the person has been put through to have their medical card reinstated fully; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the HSE medical card section was advised on 2 May 2018 of this person's misdiagnosis; and if the matter will be expedited. [20523/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services.

Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.  However, I can confirm that in relation to the case raised by the Deputy, the HSE has informed that a medical card has now been issued to the person concerned.

I wish to note that I recognise the importance of having a medical card application process that is timely and more sensitive to people’s needs, especially arrangements relating to the issuing of medical cards on a discretionary basis.  There will of course be circumstances where the processing of applications may be delayed, which can be for a number of reasons, however I understand that the HSE has put in place a number of new measures which is orientated towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the medical card application process.  I am committed to ensuring that the medical card system is as responsive as possible to the circumstances of people with significant medical needs and I will keep the operational aspects under review.