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______________________________________________
For Oral Answer on : 08/12/2022
Question Number(s): 98 Question Reference(s): 61224/22
Department: Health
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
______________________________________________


QUESTION


To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the operation of the treatment abroad scheme; his plans to improve and streamline the operation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY


The HSE operates the EU Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), for persons entitled under EU Regulation 883/04. In terms of on-going operation of the scheme the HSE, as with other EU Member States, operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme under the EU Regulations and Guidelines.

The TAS is a consultant lead scheme and allows for an Ireland-based public consultant to refer a public patient who is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in the public healthcare system of another EU member state, the UK or Switzerland. Subject to the EU Regulations and Guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved public treatments in another EU/EEA member state, the UK or Switzerland through the issue of form S2 (IE) where the treatment is:

  • among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation;
  • not available in Ireland;
  • not available within the time normally necessary for obtaining it in Ireland, taking account of the patient’s current state of health and the probable course of the disease;
  • medically necessary and will meet the patient’s needs;
  • a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or test treatment;
  • provided in a recognised public hospital or other institution that will accept EU/EEA form S2 (IE) and;
  • is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.


As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.