asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the refund of moneys due to applicants under the refund of moneys for the purchase of drugs is now taking up to ten weeks with the Eastern Health Board: and if he will indicate (1) the reasons for the delay, (2) the action he proposes to take to reduce the delay and (3) if he is prepared to introduce a scheme whereby the chemist and not the public are obliged to wait for the refund as this would reduce considerably the number of applicants that have to be processed by the Eastern Health Board.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Drugs Purchases Refunds.
12.
I have been informed that the great majority of claims received by the Eastern Health Board are dealt with in about four weeks. Refunds may be delayed if inquiries have to be made in relation to a claim or if it is not submitted at the end of the month to which it relates. Health boards generally have been asked, and are endeavouring, to reduce the delay in making payments, especially where the amount involved is significant.
The provision of a scheme on the lines suggested in the question has been considered but there are serious problems associated with this approach. However, the scheme will continue to be examined from time to time.
That is not my experience but I cannot argue with the Minister as he has been informed by the Eastern Health Board. Will the Minister look into it again? In relation to part three of my question, will the Minister agree that people benefiting from this scheme are people who by definition have no income and they cannot wait the three to eight weeks that it frequently takes for a refund? Will the Minister also agree that the chemists are operating a business with a cash flow that is not available to individuals? Would the Minister say why it is not possible to make the chemists wait the few weeks for the refund from the Eastern Health Board? This would reduce the number of applications and the bureaucratic load in the health boards.
I am concerned about this question and I have had discussions with members of the pharmaceutical union about that aspect. I am anxious to find a means of speeding up the payment aspect where substantial sums are involved. I am continuing discussions to endeavour to improve the situation. The Deputy will recognise that if the pharmacist is to undertake the responsibility he would have certain claims and this would lead to an increased administrative burden on the pharmacist. These matters would have to be discussed with the pharmaceutical union in the first instance.
Does the Minister not recognise that the pharmacists are in the business of providing such facilities, that their profit levels are known to be high in relation to prescribed drugs and that the community are already paying quite a lot for them? Would the Minister agree that there is a basis here for a solution? Would the Minister outline what difficulties have been encountered in relation to implementing such a change in the scheme?.
In the first instance it affects the cash flow. There may be administrative difficulties. I am concerned about this matter and I am having it examined in order to get a better solution.
A final supplementary.
In view of the Minister's three replies would it not be fair to take it that faced with the choice of facilitating people who have to wait for money as individuals, or chemists who may have difficulty in administering the system, the Minister for Health and this progressive Government have come down on the side of the chemists and not the individuals?
That is not a reasonable or fair conclusion.
Would the Minister mind doing something about it?
It is like some of the hurried conclusions that the Deputy comes to on other occasions. It is a matter of the chemists co-operating with us in operating the scheme. If we wanted to change that we would have to negotiate and that may not be the best way to do it. There are other possibilities which I am looking at.
Question No. 13.
Would the Minister not agree that pharmacists currently operate on a credit basis from the drug companies and that they would be in a better position to wait for the money? Will the Minister also agree that he has had requests from the Mid-Western Health Board to implement this system so that pharmacists will make drugs available and will later submit a bill for the sale of the drug to the health authority?
I understand the proposition and I am having the matter examined.
Question No. 13.
But the chemists have won.
Will the Minister reply to Question No. 13?