Cap. 318 Art. 23Free Medical Aid.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the provisions in the Health Act, a person who is the head of household shall be entitled to such Free Medical Aid as is specified hereunder, that is the supply of such drugs, spectacles, dentures, and other prosthetic aids or other additional Free Medical Aid as indicated by regulations made under this Act as in the opinion of the Chief Medical Officer to

Government are indicated in his case according to protocols which may be issued by him from time to time and are available, if he shows to the satisfaction of the Director that -

(a) on account of bodily or mental impairment, sickness or disease, which does not require treatment in a hospital, he or any member of his household is in need of medical, surgical or pharmaceutical aid; and

(b) the total weekly means of all the members of his household calculated in accordance with the provisions of Part III of the Second Schedule to this Act do not exceed the scale rate for that household, as determined by the Eighth Schedule to this Act: Provided that the Chief Medical Officer to Government shall consult, before forming his opinion, with one or more medical consultants drawn from a panel appointed by the Minister:

Provided further that, where the person concerned is suffering from Auto-Immune Enteropathy as certified by a consultant Paediatrician, the Free Medical Aid referred to above shall include Total Parenteral Nutrition or any other medical conditions as may be indicated by regulations under this Act.

(2) Where the person in need of such aid is not the head of household or his wife, the head of such household shall not be entitled to Free Medical Aid if the weekly means of the person in respect of whom such aid is required, calculated as if he formed a household of his own, exceed the scale rate for one person as determined by the aforementioned Eighth Schedule.

(3) A person suffering from one of the diseases or conditions specified in Part II of the Fifth Schedule shall be entitled to such Free Medical Aid as in the opinion of the Chief Medical Officer to Government are indicated in his case according to protocols which may be issued by him from time to time and are available within the national health service.

(4) With effect from the 1st January 2017, a person who qualifies for an Increased Severe Disability Assistance in accordance with the provisions of article 27, shall be eligible for Free Medical Aid without the need to satisfy the means test as per provisions of Part III of the Second Schedule.

(5) With effect from the 1st January 2017, any income from gainful employment or self-occupation of the person qualifying for a Severe Disability Assistance in accordance with the provisions of article 27, shall not be considered for the calculation of the income or privilege as explained in Part III of the Second Schedule.

(6) With effect from 1st January 2022, a person who reached the age of eighty (80) years and is receiving Supplementary Allowance in accordance with the provisions of article 73, shall be eligible for the Free Medical Aid without the need to satisfy the means test as per provisions of Part III of the Second Schedule.

(7) With effect from 1st January 2026, a person who reached the age of sixty-five (65) years and is benefitting from a Supplementary Allowance in accordance with the provisions of article 73, shall be eligible for the Free Medical Aid without the need to satisfy the means test according to the provisions of Part III of the Second Schedule.