asked the Minister for Health if agreement has been reached with retail chemists for the supply of drugs and medicines to the lower income group patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
158.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Legislation.
157.
asked the Minister for Health when the free choice of doctor scheme will be implemented.
159.
asked the Minister for Health when the necessary legislation on the free choice of doctor scheme for lower income group patients will be introduced.
160.
asked the Minister for Health if agreement has yet been reached with the medical profession on the method of payment to doctors in the new health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 157 to 160 together.
I intend that the legislation which I shall be introducing in the present session will include provisions to enable this scheme to be brought in but I am not yet in a position to state the date on which the scheme will commence.
The details of the proposed arrangements with retail chemists are to an extent dependent on arrangements to be reached with the drug manufacturers and wholesalers. Discussions with these interests are now at an advanced stage. Discussions with the medical profession are also continuing. The Deputy will, therefore, appreciate that I am not at present in a position to make a statement on the details of the proposed new scheme.
Would the Minister agree that discussions with the medical profession are now at an advanced stage?
With the pharmacists.
I am asking about the medical profession. I heard what the Minister said about the pharmacists.
What I said about them is that they are also continuing.
Will the Minister state if agreement has been reached? Is the Minister now prepared to accede to their requests?
From my experience when discussions are still continuing it means that agreement has not been reached.
There is an impasse, is that not what the Minister means?
The present session means anytime between now and, say, the adjournment of the Dáil for the summer?
I do not know what the Minister intended but, to my mind— if this is not tying him down—the session up to Christmas is one and from Christmas to the summer is another.
He promised the introduction of this legislation in every single session over the last two years.
The Deputy will appreciate that consultation makes everything very slow.
Surely the Minister for Labour remembers the White Paper the late Deputy Donogh O'Malley published in January, 1966?
When you are dealing with legislation that requires the co-operation of large sections——
This is going on since November, 1966. The Minister for Health admitted that he could readily introduce this.
The Deputy landed in the middle of a comma not a full stop. The Deputy will appreciate that, if you have to get the co-operation of large sections of the community, you have to have consultations, and consultations do delay legislation.
About three years.