Vol. 509 No. 6
321 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to widen the eligibility for the free prescription drugs scheme in order that those over 70 years of age can avail of free medicine. [21010/99]
Medical card holders are entitled to approved prescribed drugs free of charge. The Deputy will be aware that the Government decided that the income guidelines for entitlement to medical cards should be doubled for persons aged 70 years or over. This improvement, which is being introduced over a three year period, began on 1 March 1999. The income guidelines for persons aged 70 to 79 and persons aged 80 years and over, which are already higher than the normal guidelines, have increased by one third and there will be similar increases in 2000 and 2001.
People who are not entitled to a medical card can avail of the new drug payment scheme whereby individuals or families need only pay the first £42 per month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. This scheme is not means tested and is open to all non-medical card holders.
