Written answer
Disease Management
The Minister said universal expansion is not currently planned, while chronic kidney disease inclusion is being considered alongside broader Sláintecare eligibility reforms.
3494. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if she has considered extending the Structured Chronic Disease Management Programme beyond the medical card and GP visit card population, as recommended in the conclusion to the Third Report of the Structured Chronic Disease Management Treatment Programme in General Practice published in January 2025; the estimated full year cost of such an extension; if provision will be made in Budget 2027 for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61536/26]
Comment on this
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The GP Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme provides structured, GP-led care for adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients.
The specified chronic conditions included in the Programme are Type 2 Diabetes; Asthma; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Cardiovascular Disease (including Heart Failure, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Atrial Fibrillation).
In 2023, the programme was expanded to include adult GMS patients with hypertension, and all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. Work is currently underway to further expand the programme to include chronic kidney disease, among other conditions.
It is not currently planned to expand eligibility for the Programme to all patients on a universal basis. However, this may be considered in the context of broader expansions of eligibility and the implementation of Sláintecare. It is important to note that any expansion of the Programme requires careful clinical consideration and consultation with GPs and other stakeholders to ensure that the expansion can be rolled out effectively.