Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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755. To ask the Minister for Health the chronic disease services that are available in the primary care settings within CHO areas 3 and 5. [22956/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The 2019 GP Agreement provided for the introduction of the new Chronic Disease Management (CDM) programme for type 2 diabetes, asthma, COPD, and cardiovascular disease. The programme which commenced in 2020 with adult GMS and GP visit card patients aged 75 years and over will be fully rolled out by 2023.

The programme was modified in July 2020 to facilitate remote reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic and was expanded, ahead of schedule, to include adults aged 70 and over. Under this modified programme, patients could undertake their reviews either in person or remotely.

In January 2021, the programme was further extended to patients aged 65 years and over. In 2022, the final phase of the treatment programme is being extended to all GMS patients aged 18 years and over. Opportunistic case finding and prevention for those at high risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease will also commence this year.

The CDM programme aims to bring the care for chronic disease further into the community and reduce hospital attendance by patients with the four conditions. Approximately 94% of GPs who signed up to the agreement are providing the CDM programme.

In relation to the services that are available in primary care settings in CHO areas 3 and 5, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.