Michael Ring
Question:149 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the costs of a particular drug (details supplied) are not included in the drug subsidisation scheme. [13276/00]
Written Answers. - Community Drugs Schemes.
Since 1 July 1999, a common list of reimbursable medicines was introduced for the GMS scheme and community drugs schemes. In order for any item of medicine to be included in the common list, it must comply with a published list of criteria. These range from the uses for and licensing of medicines to the pricing of products. One of the criteria stipulates that the product should be one which may be used under the supervision of a general medical practitioner and which is not restricted to hospital or medical specialist use.
An application for the addition of the particular product referred to by the Deputy to the schemes was examined by my Department and, having noted that the manner of administration of the particular product was such that it required administration in a hospital or in a specialist clinic associated with a hospital, it was considered that the product should continue to be administered via such hospitals and clinics. Since it has always been the normal practice that medicinal products administered in such a hospital or clinic are supplied by that hospital or clinic, it was considered inappropriate to include this product as a reim bursable medicinal product in any of the community-based schemes.
The arrangements for the reimbursement or supply of specialised medicinal products, which are ordinarily hospital-specialist clinic-based products, are under consideration by my Department at present. The arrangements for the reimbursement or supply of this product will be considered in the light of the overall examination.