Written Answers. - GMS Prescribing Costs.
Peadar Clohessy
Question:
28
Mr. Clohessy
asked the
Minister for Health
if he has satisfied himself that it is ethical to allow general practitioners to benefit financially from reducing the cost of prescribing for their GMS patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1681/95]
Peadar Clohessy
Question:
35
Mr. Clohessy
asked the
Minister for Health
the estimated saving on GMS prescribing costs in 1994; the amount of this saving that was paid out to general practitioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1680/95]
Limerick East): I propose taking Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together.
In discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation in the context of the 1992 GMS Review it was agreed that, in common with other developed countries, medicines are not always prescribed in the most effective manner in this country and that, accordingly, there was significant potential for an improvement in prescribing practice leading to better patient care and better use of the resources in the development of general practitioner services.
Each doctor was, accordingly, encouraged to examine his/her existing prescribing practices with a view to availing of any opportunities to make prescribing more effective and less costly for all his/her patients. To assist in this process doctors were provided with indicative drug targets which has been constructed on the basis of average prescribing costs weighted on the basis of age and sex.
The duty and obligation of individual doctors to provide the most appropriate management for each patient who presented and, in so doing, to utilise resources available for the optimum care of patients, individually and collectively was emphasised by all parties to the scheme. In this context the right of the doctor to prescribe as he/she considers necessary remains absolutely in place and there is no limitation on the range of items from which he/she can choose to prescribe.
As an incentive to doctors to embark on this review process the scheme provided that half the savings made will be made available to the individual doctors concerned for practice development projects which receive the prior approval of the health board. This resource is being allocated towards improving facilities within general practice for the purpose of providing a more comprehensive and better quality service for patients.
Prescriptions for the month of November 1994 are currently being processed for payment with prescriptions for the month of December due to be processed in the coming weeks. Accordingly, the end of year position for 1994 has not yet been established, and I am not yet in a position to give the information requested.
The funds for investment arising from the savings made on this scheme will be available as soon as the end of year position is known and will be paid to individual practitioners once their proposals for investment in practice development have been agreed with their local health board.
