Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

862. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider awarding discretionary medical cards to women who underwent pelvic mesh implant surgery and were left with crippling, life-changing complications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36215/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I understand that complications from a mesh implant are very distressing and painful for those women involved and since the emergence of this matter, the ongoing priority focus for my Department has been to ensure that all women experiencing mesh-related complications receive high quality, multidisciplinary and patient-centred care.

Medical card provision is primarily based on residency and financial assessment. In accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE, which assesses each application on a qualifying financial threshold.

The issue of granting medical cards on the basis of illness or a disability was previously examined in 2014 by the HSE Expert Panel on Medical Need and Medical Card Eligibility. The group concluded that it was not feasible, desirable, nor ethically justifiable to list medical conditions in priority order for medical card eligibility. In following the expert group’s advice, a person’s means remains the main qualifier for a medical card.

However, every effort is made by the HSE, within the framework of the legislation, to support applicants in applying for a medical card - in particular, to take full account of difficult circumstances in the case of applicants who may be in excess of the income guidelines. In such circumstances, the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income threshold where they face difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from an illness. Social and medical issues are also considered when determining whether undue hardship exists for an individual accessing general practitioner or other medical services.

Officials in my Department have regularly engaged with two stakeholder groups, Mesh Ireland and Mesh Survivors Ireland, to understand the experiences and challenges some women have in accessing supports and services for mesh complications.

Officials are in the process of exploring options for aftercare supports for women who have suffered complications related to mesh surgery.