Minister rules out including Fibromyalgia on The Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has described confirmation from the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill that she has no plans to extend the list of conditions on the Long-Term Illness (LTI) Scheme to include Fibromyalgia as a ‘bitter pill for the many women in Offaly and indeed across the state” that have made representations to her on the matter.

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterised by severe musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and cognitive difficulties often described as ‘fibro fog.’ Individuals who suffer from the painful condition routinely experience higher than normal levels of pain intensity compared to non-fibromyalgia sufferers.

Deputy Nolan had asked Minister Carroll-MacNeill she will recognise fibromyalgia as a long-term disability for the purposes of healthcare, in line with a decision taken on this matter in Northern Ireland some years ago:

“As I understand it, since about 2016 the UK and Northern Ireland have recognised Fibromyalgia as a debilitating long -term illness that regularly makes doing even simple tasks extraordinarily difficult. It is my view, having spoken to some of the women who live with the condition here on a daily basis, that it absolutely merits being included on our own LTI Scheme,” said Deputy Nolan.

“These people are living with intense pain on a daily basis, often along with other conditions like rheumatism and even chronic depression. How can that not be considered a long term lllness?”

“While the number of people affected by fibromyalgia is not known, there is research to suggest that this could be up to 1 in 20 individuals with women being 7 time more likely than men to be affected by this condition.”

“People who come to me on this issue have rightly pointed out that it is now 2025, and the scheme has not been revised since 1975—half a century ago. I fully share their perfectly reasonable view that this alone should warrant serious review and modernisation.

“I do accept that there has been some work to improve access to and affordability of healthcare services including reductions in the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold and expansion of access to free GP care, and the abolition of all public in-patient hospital charges for children and adults.”

“But the fact remains, with respect to Fibromyalgia at least-this is a recognised long-term illness in the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Italy to name but a few. We need similar recognition here in terms of it being included on the LTI Scheme, concluded Deputy Nolan