Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
863. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health if she has engaged with Epilepsy Ireland regarding their call to expand the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16643/26]
View answer864. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Health her views on the merits of expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16644/26]
View answer888. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if she will consider expanding the chronic disease management programme to include epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16850/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 863, 864 and 888 together.
The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period.The CDM Programme represents a new approach in Ireland to working with patients to manage their healthcare. It has brought the care for chronic disease further into the community and closer to the patient, and has reduced hospital attendance by patients with one or more of the specified conditions.The Programme was rolled out on a phased basis since it was first introduced in 2020. It has since been expanded, with a further expansion planned in the coming months. The Programme was expanded in 2023 to include hypertension and to include women who have had gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. Work is currently underway to further expand the Programme to include Chronic Kidney Disease, among other conditions. Further expansion of the Programme to include additional conditions would require rigorous clinical assessment and engagement with various stakeholders, including the GPs delivering the service. Nonetheless, this could be considered in the future in the context of resource availability. I have received correspondence from Epilepsy Ireland in relation to the possible inclusion of epilepsy in the Programme and my Department is currently considering the content of that correspondence.
