asked the Minister for Health the estimated number of people excluded from benefit under the drugs refund scheme when the base figure was increased to over £28.
Written Answers. - Drugs Refund Scheme.
386.
The number of persons eligible to benefit under the scheme remains unaltered at just over two million. Following the change no refunds will be paid on claims between £23 and £28. For the majority of claimants the effect is a reduction in the refund payable.
No refund will be made in about 30,000 cases which would have received refunds if the base figure remained unchanged. It is not possible to say how many people this represents since some people have one claim in the year while others have several and a claimant may include dependants when submitting a request for refunds.
387.
asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who applied for a refund under the drugs refund scheme in 1982 and 1983.
The number of refunds granted under the scheme in 1982 was 447,720 and in 1983 it is estimated that the number granted was about 250,000. Since an applicant might make several claims during the year it is not possible to say how many persons these numbers represent.