Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed that the Government is setting aside €50 million in 2024 to develop the HSE refugee and migrant health model, which includes the provision of non-means tested medical cards for eligible arrivals.
The Minister stated that the refugee and migrant health model is to be delivered through the HSE primary care and social inclusion service.
He also said that it was worth pointing out that those arriving here seeking assistance and fleeing war in Ukraine are predominantly women and children, and “only a small proportion are presenting with significant health needs”.
As part of the processes currently in place, a full medical card is provided for Ukrainian refugees and people who register as international protection applicants while an initial health assessment is provided in the national transit centre at City West.
The minister said that an individual health questionnaire has already been completed by more than 42,000 people arriving from Ukraine as of January this year while special GP clinics are being provided to respond to capacity challenges resulting from significant increases in demand for services, particularly in areas where access to primary and community care services may be more challenging.
Confirmation of the €50 million allocation comes as the HSE clarified that all incoming arrivals from Ukraine will still continue to have access to a simplified (non-means assessed) full medical card during their first year, while existing Ukrainian medical card holders will now be subject to a standard means-test assessment when their card falls for review.
Gript has previously reported that Sinn Fein TD John Brady criticised the ongoing allocation of full medical cards to Ukrainian arrivals, “despite the absence of operational capacity barriers to conducting an earlier means test and despite the provision in Irish law that entitlements should be on the same basis as Irish citizens.”
The Wicklow TD said Sinn Féin now supports proposals to reduce the preferential treatment in the award of medical cards by conducting medical card means tests earlier for all.