asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the considerable public confusion concerning the retail chemist arrangements under the Health Act, 1970 for assistance towards the cost of prescribed medical requisites for persons with limited eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retail Chemists' Arrangements.
2.
I am not aware that confusion exists about this scheme but am glad nevertheless of the opportunity to clarify the position.
The scheme applies to the cost of prescribed medical requisites for persons, and their dependants, in the limited eligibility category—namely, persons who have not medical cards but who have incomes of under £1,600 per annum, or who are insured under the Social Welfare Acts or who are farmers with valuations of under £60.
Where expenditure on medicines for the eligible person and his dependants exceeds £3 in the month he may recoup from the health board 50 per cent of that portion of the expenditure in excess of £3 and less than £5. Where expenditure is £5 or more the rate of recoupment increases to 100 per cent for the amount over £5. For example, if spending on prescribed medicines for an eligible family amounts to £8 in the month, £4 of it may be recouped from the health board.
Persons wishing to avail of the scheme may obtain the necessary application forms and explanatory material at any retail pharmacy.
The scheme has been introduced in the Eastern Health Board area and will be extended to the rest of the country on 1st October next. In the meantime persons outside the eastern area for whom it is a hardship to meet the cost of medicines may apply to their health board under the existing hardship arrangements for assistance towards the cost.
Would the Minister not agree that the current arrangements are not only confusing but appallingly ineffective in operation? Further, would the Minister not agree that under the new arrangements persons of limited eligibility must go to a retail chemist, produce their prescription, assume they are eligible for repayment of the amount they must pay the chemist, they must sign his docket, must pay for the prescription and then submit the application to the Eastern Health Board in the hope that they will get a refund? Surely the Minister would agree that it is quite impossible for a person of limited eligibility to go through this appallingly cumbersome procedure with the retail chemist? The people who devised this scheme had no conception——
That is a statement. Has the Deputy a question to put?
We examined this problem very carefully. We do not want to have any unnecessary administrative difficulties or personal difficulties for people but at least we must begin by carrying out the arrangements mentioned by the Deputy. If this scheme can be simplified at a later date, I shall be very glad to recommend to the health boards to do so. However, at the moment in order to avoid abuses that might arise under the scheme it is essential for those receiving benefit to go through the procedure as stated by the Deputy.
Would the Minister not be prepared to recommend to retail chemists that they might facilitate persons of limited eligibility to have an account opened? Would the Minister not recommend to the Pharmaceutical Association that in the Eastern Health Board area they might make this recommendation? It is quite impossible for some people to pay £12 or £15 for medical supplies and wait for two months for a refund.
In many cases these people did not receive any aid of any kind before.