Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 4

Written Answers. - Medical Cards.

Noel Ahern

Question:

111 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation regarding approved items on the medical card list; if he will clarify the criteria for medication to be on the list; if any prescribed item is covered; if any item available under prescription only is covered; the number of items which have been taken off the list in recent years; the reason therefor; if tablets (details supplied) are on the list; if not the reason therefor; if they were ever on the list; and the process to be followed in order to have items for kidney disorders such as this placed on the approved list. [16451/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

A common list of reimbursable medicines was introduced for the general medical services scheme and the drug payment scheme from 1 July 1999. Previously, medicines which were not available to medical card holders under the general medical services scheme were being reimbursed under the community drugs schemes. The introduction of the common medicines list ensures equity between the general medical services, GMS, and the drugs payment scheme in relation to the range of medicines paid for by the State under both schemes. Apart from products delisted in 1982 and routine deletions due to product discontinuations, I am not aware of any products being deleted from the common list of reimbursable items.

In order for any item to be included in the common medicines list it must comply with certain published criteria. These range from criteria on the uses for and licensing of medicines to the pricing of products. In addition, the product should ordinarily be supplied to the public only on foot of a medical prescription and should not be advertised or promoted to the public. However, if a medical card holder is suffering undue hardship obtaining a medicine which is not covered under the common list, he or she may apply to the chief executive officer of the relevant health board for assistance.

Another criterion for reimbursement is that the product must be the subject of a current product authorisation from the Irish Medicines Board with regard to the quality, safety and efficacy of the product.

The list of drugs, medicines and appliances available to GMS patients, as specified in the current GMS code book, including all updates, and with some additions, forms the common list of items for both the GMS and drugs payment schemes. This common list of items is of course subject to ongoing review and is amended on a monthly basis as new items which conform to the published criteria are added to the list.

In regard to the specific product referred to by the Deputy, one category of product which is reimbursable is medicinal products authorised and recommended as phosphate-binding agents in the treatment of renal failure in patients on renal dialysis. Should the manufacturer of the product be in possession of the required product authorisation and the marketing of the product is otherwise in compliance with the published criteria, it is a matter for that company to make application to my Department to have the product included.