David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to introduce medical cards for cancer patients and terminally ill patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23643/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Act 1970, eligibility for a medical card is based primarily on means. The Act does not provide for automatic eligibility based on having a particular disease or illness. However, the HSE does have a compassionate system in place for the provision of medical cards when it is informed that a patient is receiving end of life treatment – that is when patients’ unfortunately have a prognosis of less than 12 months.

These applications do not require a means assessment nor are they reassessed.

Individuals may also qualify for a medical card through the means assessment process. The HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card where individuals exceed the income guidelines.

Furthermore, since 2015 medical cards are awarded without the need of a financial assessment to all children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer.

I recognise however that not all terminally ill patients may qualify for a medical card and this understandably causes upset and concern.

To that end, the HSE Clinical Advisory Group (CAG) was established in December 2019 to review this issue. I can confirm that the work of the CAG group has concluded and a Report was submitted last week to my Department and is currently under active consideration.