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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Oct 2002

Vol. 556 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drug Treatment Services.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

85 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department has taken initiatives to influence the prescribing habits of doctors in relation to the low levels of generics which are prescribed by general practitioners here. [19561/02]

Since 1 January 1993, general practitioners have been allocated an annual target budget for expenditure on drugs for their GMS patients. This scheme is called the indicative drug target saving scheme. Targets are determined by national norms and form part of an agreement between my Department and the Irish Medical Organisation.

In an attempt to limit the escalation of the annual costs of GMS drugs, general practitioners participating in the scheme are permitted to accrue savings under this scheme which can then be used to fund general practice developments at their practice premises for the benefit of their patients. Applications for funds from the scheme must be formally approved by the local health board in advance of payment by the GMS payments board.

A review of the scheme undertaken by Professor Michael Murphy, which was published in July 1997, found that there were changes in prescribing behaviour as a result of the scheme. Some doctors made savings through enhanced prescribing of generic medications and there were no discernible negative effects on the overall quality of prescribing.

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