Medical Card/G.P. Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines

(3) A Health Board shall make available out-patient services without charge for children not
included among the persons referred to in subsection (2) in respect of diseases and disabilities of a
permanent or long-term nature prescribed with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
(4) A Health Board shall make available out-patient services without charge for children not
included among the persons referred to in subsection (2) in respect of defects noticed at an
examination under the service mentioned in section 66.
(5) A Health Board may make available out-patient services for persons not entitled to such
services under subsection (2) to (4) and the board shall charge for any services so provided charges
approved of or directed by the Minister”.
Section 58 of the Health Act 1970
“(1) The Health Service Executive shall make available without charge a general practitioner
medical and surgical service for a person in any of the following categories –
a) persons with full eligibility
b) adult persons with limited eligibility for whom, in the opinion of the Health Service
Executive, and notwithstanding that they do not come within the category mentioned in
section 45 (1) (a), it would be unduly burdensome to arrange general practitioner medical and
surgical services for themselves and their dependants, and
c) dependants who are ordinarily resident in the State of the persons referred to in paragraph
(b).
(2) In deciding whether or not a person comes within the category mentioned in subsection (1) (b),
the Health Service Executive shall have regard to the person’s overall financial situation (including
the means of the spouse, if any, of that person in addition to the person’s own means) in view of the
person’s reasonable expenditure in relation to himself or herself and his or her dependants, if any.
(3) In so far as it is considered practicable by the Health Service Executive, a choice of medical
practitioner shall be offered under the general practitioner medical and surgical service made
available under this section”.
Section 59 of the Health Act 1970
“(1) Subject to subsection (6), a board shall make arrangements for the supply without charge by
community pharmacies to persons with full eligibility of such drugs as stand approved under
subsection (7) for the purposes of this subsection.
(2) Subject to subsection (6), if a person with limited eligibility, or a person with full eligibility
who does not avail himself or herself of arrangements under subsection (1), incurs, in respect of a
period not exceeding such length as is specified by regulations made with the consent of the Minister
for Finance, expenditure on a drug that stands approved under subsection (7) for the purposes of this
subsection and it is shown to the satisfaction of the chief executive officer of the appropriate Health
Board that the drug –
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