Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Community healthcare services are provided to applicants for International Protection on the same basis as Irish nationals, including eligibility for the provision of a medical card. Persons who hold a medical card can avail of the following services: General Practitioner (GP) services, a home nursing service, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient and out-patient public hospital services including consultant services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances, certain maternity services, the counselling in primary care service and termination of pregnancy services. Services such as allied healthcare professional services may also be available to medical card holders.

The policy approach to the provision of community healthcare services for applicants for International Protection is informed by the HSE National Intercultural Health Strategy 2018- 2023.13 The strategy supports migrants from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds to obtain equal access and opportunities across the Irish healthcare services

A person seeking International Protection is entitled to apply for and be assessed for a medical card. They can apply online at www.mymedicalcard.ie or they can download a medical card application form. They may be assisted in completing their application forms by members of the local health team. An application cannot be made until the individual is in receipt of a PPS number, from the Department of Social Protection.

The Department of Health and the HSE are committed to developing an enhanced model of community health care for international protection applicants and other refugees, under the White Paper to end direct provision and to establish a new international protection support service. Under this model, community healthcare teams will develop a comprehensive and efficient model of care for applicants for International Protection. It will be based on a population health planning approach, in line with Sláintecare, so that applicants for International Protection can get an appropriate level of care in line with resource availability. The teams will be adapted to fit the proposed six new health care regions when rolled out by the HSE.

The HSE spends over €8m per annum in the provision of healthcare services for international protection applicants, including €5m through the general medical services scheme. In Budget 2023, I provided an additional €700,000 to increase access to healthcare services for international protection applicants and other refugees.