Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 July 2026
458. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health the plans to extend the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) to include epilepsy; the assessments under way by the HSE to add epilepsy to the CDMP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50454/26]
View answerUnder the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. The General Practitioner (GP) Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme commenced in 2020 and has been rolled out on a phased basis to adult GMS (Medical Card and GP Visit Card) patients over a 4-year period.
The specified chronic conditions included in the programme under the 2019 Agreement were Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Cardiovascular Disease. The 2023 GP GMS Agreement then expanded the CDM Programme to include adult GMS patients with hypertension, and all women diagnosed with gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia.
Work is currently underway to expand the Programme to include additional conditions under the various CDM programmes, including chronic kidney disease.
There are no plans at present to extend the CDM programme beyond the current expansion. 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.
