Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Feb 1994

Vol. 439 No. 4

Written Answers. - Drug Target Scheme.

Nora Owen

Question:

43 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health the guidelines he has issued to general practitioners benefiting from the drugs refund; if the refund can be spent on anything they wish or whether the purchases have to be agreed with his Department; and if he will seek accountability for the refunds paid.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

My Department has issued guidelines to the health boards on investment by general practitioners of savings achieved under the Drug Target Scheme. The guidelines include three essential requirements which must be met in order to allow investments to be made:

—savings are for investment in general practice developments;

—developments, in order to qualify for investments under the scheme, require the approval of the local health board; and

—appropriate accountability arrangements must apply.

Practice developments which may be supported under the scheme include investment in information technology, practice premises, clinical equipment, recruitment of primary care expertise on fixed term contracts, research, education and training. Under the guidelines priority will be given to investing in improving organisational arrangements in general practice particularly where a number of general practitioners achieve savings in the same geographic area. This will facilitate the development of amalgamations, groups and co-operative type arrangements between general practitioners so that patients have easier access to a wider range of general practitioner services.