Ivor Callely
Question:91 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the GMS drug bill overruns for the years 1982 to 1992; the measures, if any, which will be introduced to address such overruns; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - GMS Drugs Expenditure.
Overall drugs expenditure in the GMS rose from £57.6 million in 1982 to £134.8 million in 1992. In the period between 1987 and 1992 the "real" increase in the cost of drugs is in the order of 11 per cent per annum when price fluctuations are ignored. Control of this rise in costs was therefore a major component of the agreement reached with the Irish Medical Organisation in late 1992. An analysis of the drugs expenditure in the scheme in 1993 to date, shows a marked reduction in these trend increases, because of this agreement and the other initiatives taken by my Department.
All annual overruns in expenditure between 1982 and 1992 were met by annual Supplementary Estimates.