The Long Term Illness Card Scheme

The long term illness card scheme is a statutory scheme. Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 gives the health boards (now HSE) the power to make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines or medical/surgical appliances to persons suffering from “a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature.” Regulations made by the Minister for Health under the Act, (The Health Services (Amendment) Regulations, 1971, S.I. 277/1971) listed the diseases or disabilities which would qualify an applicant for the card. The illness with which this case is concerned is listed in the Regulations as “mental illness. “  Article 9 of the Regulations stipulates that

“Arrangements for the supply of drugs and medicines to persons suffering from mental illness in pursuance of section 59(3) of the Act shall be made only in respect of persons under the age of 16 years.”

This means that mental illness in a child under the age of 16 is an illness which qualifies for the LTI scheme so that the medications prescribed for that child may be obtained free of charge.