asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for patients with coeliac disease to obtain gluten-free foods free of charge.

15.

asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including free medicines for patients who are suffering from heart disease on the list of free drugs.

16.

asked the Minister for Health if coeliac disease is included in the special list of long-term illnesses.

17.

asked the Minister for Health if free medicines for patients with coeliac and heart disease will be introduced shortly, in view of the heavy cost to patients at present of drugs and medicines.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions No. 14 to 17 together.

Persons covered by medical cards may obtain prescribed medicines free of charge. In the case of coeliac disease this includes certain gluten-free foods and, of course, drugs needed for heart conditions are covered.

Persons with limited eligibility are entitled to claim a refund of the cost of prescribed medicines in excess of £6.50 for a calendar month. This scheme also covers foods prescribed for persons with coeliac disease and drugs for heart conditions. Next April entitlement to the latter scheme will be extended to the remainder of the population.

Coeliac disease is not included in the prescribed list of long term illnesses and while I have no proposal at present to extend that list this scheme will be reviewed again before the end of the year.

In view of the great expense incurred and the long-term treatment involved for patients suffering from heart disease would the Minister not consider that it might alleviate some of the anxiety and distress caused them by (a) the rather cumbersome and over-elaborate method of explaining the cost of the drugs and (b) the anxiety in the initial stages of the disease itself and the anxiety overall associated with it? Would it not be more facile for the Minister to give carte blanche to patients suffering from heart disease rather than having to pay for the majority of their drugs and seeking reimbursement in a rather over-elaborate fashion?

The situation at present is as I have outlined to the Deputy. Of course people who are entitled to the general medical services get everything free of charge. As and from next April the remainder of the population will be able to get all their requirements free of charge subject to the £6.50 per month. I am not aware that it is all that cumbersome a scheme. As the Deputy knows, the situation is that an individual purchases his requirements and then gets a refund. If there is any way in which that refund scheme could be expedited I would certainly be glad to examine that.