asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the public disquiet at the very high level of the cost of administering prescriptions under the GMS which this year resulted in a payment of £11,000,000 to approximately 1,000 pharmacists; if the General Medical Service Payment Board are satisfied with the manner in which pharmacists dispense generic and brand name drugs under the General Medical Services scheme; if he is of the opinion that there should be a public inquiry into the present system; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Cost of GMS Prescriptions.
96.
I am aware of widespread public concern at the volume and cost of drugs supplied in the GMS. I am satisfied that an equally high, and in some respects, higher standard of care could be provided with less use of drugs. However, it is the prescribing patterns of doctors which give rise to the costs involved. The payments made to pharmacists for dispensing the items prescribed by doctors are not unreasonable. I understand from the General Medical Services (Payments) Board that they have recently reiterated the instructions to pharmacists regarding the way in which prescriptions which do not specify a brand name are to be dispensed. Pharmacists are obliged to dispense from among the lower, if not the lowest cost version of generically-prescribed drugs where it is reasonable to expect them to be able to do so. While this is an area which requires continuing review, I am satisfied that the measures taken to date are adequate.