Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1151. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to private hospitals charging patients for Covid-19 tests as a requirement to access other treatments; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that health insurers will not cover this cost; the number of private hospitals that are reported to be charging patients for Covid-19 tests; the steps he plans to take to investigate this issue; his plans to prevent private hospitals from making a profit on Covid-19 tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19911/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 1278 of 14 July 2020 (PQ15888/20). I can confirm that the position as outlined remains unchanged.

In addition, as Minister for Health, I do not have a role to play in the commercial decisions taken by health insurers regarding the treatments or services included in their products, provided that the regulatory obligations set out in Minimum Benefit Regulations and other health insurance legislation are complied with.