Vol. 423 No. 1
292 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the drugs refund scheme is administered by the Mid-Western Health Board in calendar quarters and that this is causing distress to applicants who make their first claim on the last month; and if he will change the scheme to chronological quarters.
The drugs refund scheme is intended to provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines for persons who do not have entitlement to free drugs under the general medical services medical card scheme. The refund scheme currently operates on the basis that any expenditure on prescribed drugs and medicines in excess of £90 per calendar quarter will be refunded.
With regard to the position referred to by the Deputy, the Mid-Western Health Board administers the scheme in the same way as all the other health boards and as set out in the appropriate regulations and it is not intended to change the basis of the scheme.
