Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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1521. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 8 December 2022, if a timeline will be provided for the review of the community ophthalmic services medical treatment scheme; if interest groups will be allowed to make submissions as part of this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1603/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Ophthalmic Services Medical Treatment Scheme (COSMTS) was established in 2004 as a pilot project in response to an identified need. The scheme engages four practices across seven locations to provide medical and minor surgical care to patients outside of the acute care setting. This allows hospitals and eye clinics to focus on treating more complex conditions. The treatments and the current fees payable under the scheme were agreed in 2013.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) have advised that a detailed evaluation of the operation of the COSMTS will need to be carried out before it is extended further.

As the HSE have advised it is necessary, I will be requesting that they conduct an evaluation of the COSMTS as soon as possible. The logistics of that evaluation, including the timeline required and whether submissions from interest groups will be invited, will be a matter for the HSE in the context of other healthcare priorities and available resources.