Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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493. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to include pulmonary hypertension in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2565/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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507. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to add a condition (details supplied) to the list of qualifying conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2604/20]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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597. To ask the Minister for Health when changes will be made to the long-term illness list (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2853/20]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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862. To ask the Minister for Health his plans or proposals to update the long term illness scheme to include Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome [3737/20]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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863. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to update the long term illness scheme to include coeliac disease [3738/20]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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864. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to update the long term illness scheme to include those that have multiple scoliosis [3739/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 493, 507, 597 and 862 to 864, inclusive, together.

The Long Term Illness Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the LTI are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. Under the scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge.

There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the scheme at this time. However, I wish to inform the Deputy that it is proposed that the LTI Scheme would be included as part of a review of the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, to be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy.

For people who are not eligible for the LTI Scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.

Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €124 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.

People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.

People who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.