Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 7

Written Answers. - Drug Payment Scheme.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

304 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has for the new drugs refund scheme in relation to the start date; the cost involved in the issuing of cards to all families; the drugs which can no longer be claimed for and the frequency with which this list will be revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5107/99]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

310 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the savings expected to be made from the changes in the drugs card regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5128/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 310 together.

The primary purpose of the new drug payment scheme is to bring about important improvements in the existing community drug schemes by merging the best elements of two existing schemes, the drug cost subsidisation scheme and the drug refund scheme and by replacing these schemes with a more user friendly scheme with added benefits to individuals and families. It is expected that the uptake for the new scheme will be broadly in line with the combined uptake of the drug cost subsidisation scheme and the drug refund scheme.

The scheme will commence on 1 July 1999 and will be facilitated by the introduction of information technology and the use of magnetic cards which will give pharmacists on-line access to the General Medical Services (Payments) Board and so enable them to ascertain when the threshold of £42 is reached by any member of a family, even though they may be using different pharmacies. While it was planned to introduce this technology at a later date, it is now being brought forward to enable the smooth introduction of the scheme. The need to comply with EU tendering requirements for the supply of the magnetic cards has meant a delay in the planned introduction of the scheme. However, the introduction of the neces sary IT at the initial stages will ensure a much more user friendly and efficient service for patients. The costs of the supply of cards will not be available until the tendering process is completed.

A common medicines list will be introduced for both the drug payment scheme and the General Medical Services scheme in relation to the range of medicines paid for by the State under both schemes. While the detail of this list is under review, my position is that the comprehensive range of the most modern therapies currently available on the the GMS will continue to be paid for under the new scheme. As with medicines currently on the GMS scheme, the common list will be revised on a regular basis to take account of therapeutic developments and changes in products.