, Limerick East): The drug cost subsidisation scheme caters for people who do not have a medical card and are certified by their general practitioner as having a long-term medical condition with a regular and ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines in excess of £32 per month.
In 1995, the health boards carried out a review of the community drugs schemes generally. In the case of the DCSS, that review showed that there were a considerable number of people who, although holding a DCSS card, had ceased to use it, indicating that they no longer had an ongoing monthly requirement for prescribed medicines in excess of £32 per month in accordance with the terms of the scheme. A review of the scheme is ongoing in the Eastern Health Board and persons who do not satisfy the criteria in respect of a regular and ongoing need for prescribed drugs and medicines have had their cards withdrawn. To date approximately 1,900 cards have been cancelled by the board and a further 330 cards are due to be withdrawn. Such persons may avail of the drugs refund scheme, which covers expenditure by the whole family, where any expenditure on prescribed medication in excess of £90 in a calendar quarter is refunded by the health board. Should a person at a future date have an ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines in excess of £32 per month, the person should apply to the board for a new drug cost subsidisation scheme card.
