46 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Health the current position regarding people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and their difficulty in obtaining benefits. [4293/97]

Limerick East): All Irish residents qualify for a comprehensive range of health services. Persons in category 1 (medical card holders) are entitled to the full range of public health services free of charge. No illness or disease is precluded under the medical card scheme and in this regard all medical card holders are entitled to the appropriate treatment.

Under the Health Act, 1970, medical cards are issued to persons who, in the opinion of the chief executive officer of the appropriate health board, are unable, without undue hardship to provide general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants. Medical cards may also be awarded to individual family members on this basis.

The entitlement of persons in category 2 (non-medical card holders) includes the full range of public hospital and public consultant services for the treatment of illnesses and diseases, subject only to modest statutory charges. They are also entitled to avail of the community drug schemes which provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines for persons with ongoing medical conditions.