Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1999

Vol. 506 No. 6

Written Answers. - Drugs Refund Scheme.

Richard Bruton

Question:

73 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if the new swipe cards will be issued in good time for the new drugs refund scheme due to commence on 1 July 1999; if he has cleared the arrangements with the pharmacists and unions involved; and if he will defer introduction to ensure proper preparations are in place. [16149/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

With effect from 1 July 1999 the existing drug cost subsidisation and drug refund schemes will be merged into one new drug payment scheme, with a threshold of £42 per month per family unit. Where expenditure by a family or an individual exceeds £42 per month on approved medicines, the balance will be met by the State. To participate in the scheme, patients must register with their health board. Patients who have registered in compliance with the registration form will receive a drug payment scheme card shortly. There will also be a facility for on the spot registration for the scheme in community pharmacies, in situations where the patient has not already registered and where he-she can provide the pharmacist with all the necessary details, including his or her RSI number.

The IT system for the scheme will provide a swipe card, which will enable individuals or members of the same family to use different pharmacies within a month. Pending the full introduction of the IT system for the new scheme in pharmacies, it is recommended that users of the scheme purchase all their prescribed medication in the same community pharmacy each calendar month. If they so wish, a different community pharmacy can be used the following month. In the initial stages, in the event that an individual or family member has occasion to use another community pharmacy in the same month, and the total expenditure exceeds £42 he or she should retain their receipts for submission to the relevant health board which will reimburse the balance of the expenditure.

Officials of my Department have had extensive discussions with the Irish pharmaceutical union on the operation of the new scheme and the concerns expressed by the Irish pharmaceutical union in the course of discussion have been taken into account when finalising the details of the scheme. I understand that the matter will be put to a ballot by the Irish pharmaceutical union on 27 June 1999 and I am hopeful of a positive outcome. I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain committed to the principle underpinning this scheme, namely that, with effect from 1 July 1999, no individual or family will have to pay more than £42 in any calendar month for approved, prescribed medicines.

The primary aim of the new drug payment scheme is to bring about important improvements in the drug refund scheme and the drug cost subsidisation scheme. The new scheme will effectively merge the best elements of the two existing schemes and is designed to significantly improve the cash flow situation for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.

The new drug payment scheme is for everyone. To qualify under the old drug cost subsidisation scheme, patients had to be certified by their doctor as suffering from a condition requiring ongoing expenditure on medicines. There are no qualifying criteria for the new scheme.

Under the drug refund scheme, families and individuals pay the full cost of their prescription medicines and may, at the end of the quarter, claim reimbursement from their health board of expenditure over £90 in that calendar quarter.

Many families and individuals have very heavy expenditure on drugs and medicines in a quarter and have to wait a further six weeks from the end of the quarter before they receive a refund. This can cause considerable cash flow problems for a significant number of families and individuals. The new scheme means that families and individuals will, for the first time, be able to budget for the cost of medicines. Families and individuals will know that, whatever the size of their drugs bill, they will not have to pay more than £42 per month.