Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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636. To ask the Minister for Health the status of persons who suffer from fibromyalgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9381/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As you are aware, Fibromyalgia is not one of the 16 conditions covered under the Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.

Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines, regardless of their illness of medical condition.

Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE), unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.