Vol. 388 No. 8
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only one person is employed by the South-Eastern Health Board to deal with payments under the drugs refund scheme in Wexford; that claimants are experiencing up to three months' delay in payments of drugs refunds due to them; and if his Department can take steps to ensure that this situation is improved in view of the hardship caused by such long delays.
137.
asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that only one person is administering the drug refund scheme in the South-Eastern Health Board region; that delays of over three months in repayments are occurring; that many families cannot carry this financial burden; and the action he proposes to improve this situation.
I will take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together. The local administrations of the drugs refund scheme is a matter for the appropriate health board. The average waiting period for refunds under the drug refund scheme in the South-Eastern Health Board area is 5-6 weeks, broadly in line with the national situation, though I am aware of particular delays occurring in Wexford.
I further understand that the South-Eastern Health Board have a total of five staff administering the scheme within the board's functional area.
I am aware that there can be particular problems for patients with ongoing chronic long-term conditions who are dependent on the present scheme. It was with these patients in mind that the Government adopted my proposals for the introduction of a new drug cost subsidisation scheme which will relieve continuous users of the refund scheme of the burden associated with substantial initial cash outlays in the purchase of prescription drugs and medicines.
