Beverley Flynn
Question:166 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Health and Children if a drug (details supplied) can be included in the general medical services for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [13206/98]
Written Answers. - General Medical Services Scheme.
There is no drug by the name of Ventison available in this country. I presume the Deputy is referring to the drug called Fentazin.
One of the criteria for the inclusion of products under the general medical services — GMS — scheme is that the price of any medicine to be included under this scheme must comply with the current pricing agreement in place with the industry. The price of drugs and medicines — ex-manufacturer — in Ireland has been controlled through the mechanism of a succession of agreements between the Department of Health and Children and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association.
The company originally responsible for the supply of Fentazin in Ireland transferred the responsibility for the supply of this product to another company. This company stated that it was unable to supply Fentazin to the Irish market under the terms and conditions of the pricing agreement in place with the industry and therefore the product was considered inappropriate for reimbursement under any of the community drug schemes.
Health boards may provide assistance towards the cost of prescribed medicines which are not covered by the GMS scheme. Assistance of this kind is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide and I have forwarded details regarding this case to the Western Health Board for consideration. I have requested that the board reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.