Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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308. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on measures to scrap an €80 charge for venesection clinics that was introduced for haemochromatosis patients who do not have access to medical cards; the discussions that are taking place to eliminate the charge, which may deter patients from venesection treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2972/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Where venesection is classed as a day case procedure and is not carried out in an out-patient setting, the public in-patient charge applies.

The issue of the provision of therapeutic phlebotomy services for hereditary haemochromatosis patients, including the issue of charges, is still under consideration by my Department and the HSE.

It is agreed that such services should be provided at the lowest level of complexity that is clinically and operationally feasible. In time it is envisaged that the majority of this work will be done in a primary care setting.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service accepts hereditary haemochromatosis patients who are eligible to donate blood at their fixed and mobile donation clinics nationwide. Patients can attend, free of charge, a maximum of four times a year with a minimum of ninety days between phlebotomies. The patient's hereditary haemochromatosis will continue to be managed by their physician, including the monitoring of ferritin levels.