Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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1100. To ask the Minister for Health , further to Parliamentary Question No. 625 of 28 September, if he will consider an interim waiver of the statutory public inpatient charge for those small numbers who suffer an adverse reaction to Covid-19 vaccines pending any future review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53273/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Currently, the Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides that all persons ordinarily resident in the country are eligible, subject to the statutory in-patient charge, to public in-patient hospital services. The current public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €80 per night, subject to a maximum of €800 in any period of twelve consecutive months. All persons accessing public in-patient services in a public hospital are liable for the statutory public in-patient charge, subject to a number of limited exemptions which include;

- medical card holders;

- people receiving treatment for prescribed infectious diseases - including Coronavirus (Covid-19);

- people who are subject to 'long-stay' charges;

- children referred for treatment from child health clinics and school board examinations;

- people who are eligible for hospital services because of EU Regulations;

- women receiving maternity services;

- children up to 6 weeks of age;

- people with hepatitis C who have a Health Amendment Card; and

- people who are part of the Redress Scheme for Women Resident in Certain Institutions.

The question of waiving statutory in-patient charges and other fees for persons who experience an adverse reaction to Covid-19 vaccination, will require further consideration in the context of broader health policy, legal and financial implications which may arise.