With your permission, Madam Speaker, I shall answer Parliamentary Questions B/31 and B/54 together, as they both relate to the same subject matter. Madam Speaker, I thank both hon. Members for their respective questions. I must say that since I was appointed Minister of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, I am in the presence of constant complaints and outcries in relation to the entitlements of our citizens to rights and benefits related to disabilities. Complaints are never- ending and, on a daily basis, reported either to the Ministry, to me or to the Junior Minister, to my colleague Ministers and to Members of this Assembly. Many citizens are of the view that their applications are unjustly rejected, disallowed or abruptly stopped. Many citizens cannot understand why they are constantly being called for new medical assessments on a yearly basis when they view their disabilities as being of a permanent nature or when they are completely bedridden. Madam Speaker, the malfunctioning disability benefit system is exposed by the fact that the average time spent by a medical doctor from the Medical Board to assess the degree of incapacity of a person and hence to determine his or her eligibility for Basic Invalid Pension or Disability Allowance is less than five minutes per applicant. Consequently, and in reply to part (c) of question B/31 and to the first part of PQ B/54, my Ministry will formulate new policies and bring structural changes to the assessment processes and procedures used to determine pensions and allowance entitlements of our citizens with disabilities. Same has already been mentioned in the Presidential Address and the Attorney General is being notified of this legislative reform agenda. Disability-related NGOs, specialists and activists are being and will be further consulted in this context. In regard to part (a) of PQ B/31, I wish to inform the House that presently persons with disabilities are entitled to an Invalid Basic Pension or a Disability Allowance after an assessment by a Medical Board. Additionally, as from July 2024, children suffering from a disability of less than 15 years who are in receipt of an Invalid Basic Pension or a Disability Allowance are eligible for an additional monthly allowance of Rs3,000. The criteria for someone to benefit from an Invalid Basic Pension in accordance with section 8 of the National Pensions Act 1976 is that the person be under the age of 60 years

63 and have a disability of 60% or more which is likely to last for a period of at least 12 months. With regard to eligibility for Disability Allowance, a person in accordance with section 30A of the Social Contribution Act and Social Benefits Act 2021 is entitled to same if, firstly, he has a disability of not less than 40% and not exceeding 59% due to an injury or medical condition specified in the sixth schedule of the Act – “(b) he is under the age of 60 years, and (c) he is not in receipt of a basic pension under the National Pensions Act.” Madam Speaker, with regard to part (a) of PQ B/31, I am informed that presently a medical assessment is carried out by Medical Practitioners of my Ministry to determine the eligibility of the Invalid Basic Pension and Disability Allowance. Assessments are carried out either by a Medical Board which comprises two Medical Practitioners or by one Medical Practitioner at the claimants’ residence for those who are bedridden and who cannot attend Medical Board. A Medical Guideline dated 2016 is also used by Medical Practitioners who sit on Medical Boards for assessment of claimants for the benefits. These guidelines have been prepared with the help of specialists in various fields from the Ministry of Health and Wellness with the view to standardising the assessment made by doctors while evaluating the eligibility of claimants. The guidelines also stipulate the duration of the award of the benefits. With regard to the rest of part (a) of PQ B/31, I am further informed that medical doctors employed in public hospitals only examine patients for their respective ailments for which they present themselves. This examination is not conducted to determine eligibility for any kind of benefit. However, medical certificates which are issued by medical doctors employed in the public hospitals and private institutions are presented by claimants on Medical Board. The whole assessment process is presently under scrutiny and will be subject to review in the context of the upcoming reform. Madam Speaker, at present a person whose case has been disallowed by a Medical Board or Domiciliary board has the right to make an appeal to the Medical Tribunal. The Medical Tribunal is composed of two specialists in relevant fields and is chaired by a representative of the Attorney General’s office. The above step two will also be subject to a review in the context of the coming reform.

64 Madam Speaker, with regard to part (b) (i) (ii) of PQ B/31, I am informed that from July 2015 to January 2025, my Ministry has received 88,628 applications for the invalid basic pensions, out of which 44,301 cases have been allowed and 41,385 cases have been disallowed by Medical Boards. I am further informing the House that as of February 2025, there are 26,057 beneficiaries of invalid basic pensions and 630 beneficiaries of disability allowance. For the information of the House, I am tabling a document compiling the data of the cases processed for the last ten years. Madam Speaker, this House can rest assured that this government will ensure that all our citizens who have disabilities will be treated with dignity, respect and a fair and caring manner. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madame la présidente, tout d’abord, je voudrais remercier l’honorable ministre pour les réponses qu’il nous a fournies. De sa réponse, je tiens que presque 50 % des applications pour l’allocation d’invalide ont été rejetées par un board composé d’un ou deux médecins qui ne passent que cinq minutes pour évaluer ces cas. Donc les personnes qui ont besoin de cette allocation d’invalidité sont souvent dans un grand besoin. Quelle mesure urgente peut le ministre proposer dans ces cas en attendant la réforme qui vient ?

Question très pertinente !

Très pertinente! First, this will be the main component of the coming reform. Secondly, what we are trying to do now is reorganise the team so that we can process the applications in a speedier manner. We had a legal problem with the constitution of the board; there was a mistake in the law which was clarified by the State Law Office, which took time. I received the opinion of the State Law Office two weeks ago – of the legality of the Medical Board. Now that this has been clarified, maybe we will also review the composition of the Medical Board which is performing these tests and seek their rational criteria when assessing applications for invalidity pensions or disability allowances. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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So, the next question would now be from the hon. Third Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue. SAINTE CROIX, CITE LA CURE, RUISSEAU ROSE & LONG MOUNTAIN – PIPE LAYING WORKS