Vol. 501 No. 6
225 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 2 February 1999, the drugs payment scheme will operate for individuals and families for treatments received directly from their general practitioner, even if he is not a dispensing doctor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6694/99]
The position is that the drugs payment scheme will enable individuals or families to obtain their prescribed drugs and medicines from their community pharmacy and no individual or family will have to pay more than £42 per month. The scheme does not cover the cost of any treatments that may be administered by a patient's general practioner. Neither is the scheme designed to cover the cost of medicines that are dispensed to patients by general practioners. This is in line with the Department's current policy in respect of the refund of drugs and drug cost subsidisation schemes.
