I bambini affetti da asma restano senza farmaci vitali perché i loro genitori non possono permetterseli, rileva una nuova indagine
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/children-with-asthma-going-without-vital-medication-because-their-parents-cant-afford-it-new-survey-finds/a731866918.html
di PoppedCork
16 commenti
It’s grim that in 2026 we still have kids going without the medication they need to breathe because their parents can’t afford it. One in ten children with asthma missing meds isn’t a statistic it’s families choosing between bills and keeping their child out of hospital. If the preferred inhalers actually prevent attacks, why aren’t they free for the kids who need them.
The Americanisation of Ireland continues space. We’ve always known money is more important than people to FFG, but it’s deeply pissoffy to see it shown so clearly when it comes to kids.
A friend of mine was pushed out of eligibility for a medical card (for her and her child) by the paltry bump in Working Family Payment. So she has to make calls like this as a matter of course. A support she gets due to her low income cost her the support she needs due to her low income.
GDP looks great though…
Edit – It also makes it impossible for her to register with a doctor because nobody’s taking new patients except by the 3 strikes medical card rule.
I have asthma and my symbicort inhaler costs €50-€60, and it only lasts 3-4 weeks depending on usage, it is expensive, and yes this is with the drug payment scheme
Asthma kills 50 people a year in Ireland.
The current government decided it made more sense to make HRT free rather than asthma medication or psychiatric medication.
It should fall under the long term illness scheme, like insulin
Another reminder to never vote FF or FG again. We are a rich country in paper but fuck over our people while doing so
The government have said they are going to broaden incentives to make homes reduce carbon. Another way to help reduce asthma in children is to subside the removal of gas stoves in lieu of induction. There is a well established link https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/08/gas-cookers-pump-out-toxic-particles-linked-to-childhood-asthma-report-finds
Thought this might be due to how hard it is to get a child diagnosed vs the cost aspect.
I find this a little odd, to be honest?
Assuming you don’t qualify for the medical card (in which case it’s €15/ month cap for prescription drugs), then you’d still qualify for the Drug Payment Scheme – €80/ month, max, capped, for the whole family.
That’s… not excessive.
What am I missing?
But we are the richest country in Europe? How could this ever happen when we make so much money, and live so well? I thought there’s “plenty of money in the country”?
Joke of a country this is.
It’s a joke. I used to be able to go to Spain and buy the inhalers I use there but they nipped that in the bud too.
I’m sorry, but absolutely zero people with a long term chronic condition should be paying for their medication. I don’t care if it means a few millionaires might get a free inhaler if it means families don’t fall into means tested, capped payment traps they cannot afford. We give out free contraception ffs, we should be handing out free inhalers.
In other news
Water is wet
It’s also insane you still need a prescription for your asthma medication, should be something that pharmacist can prescribe.
Once diagnosed and on the medication long term.
Madness how asthma isnt covered under the long-term illness scheme. Always one of the biggest healthcare costs/reasons for hospitalisation and we have clear data that costs are prohibitive. If you skip the preventative inhalers because they cost 50quid a month, by the time you feel the chestiness amd reach for your €10 ventolin it does relieve it and you can go about your day, but the damage is already done, lungs are already getting scarred, over decades you end up with terrible lung function and needing constant, often ineffective antibiotics.
Ok maybe a few decades ago we as a country couldn’t afford all these 50quid inhalers to be covered for free, but in 2027 someone with say diabetes can get free insulin (€30-60), test strips €30, lancets/needles etc €30-60, glucose monitors/reservoirs/cannula €300+, plus associated meds like statins/blood pressure, all for free every month – but asthmatics cant?
Make it make sense