Vol. 564 No. 1
241 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 376 of 26 November 2002, the position regarding his proposals to refund ?17.3 million due to 175,000 people overcharged for their drugs bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8962/03]
The drugs payment scheme, DPS, which replaced the drug cost subsidisation scheme, DCSS, and drugs refund scheme, DRS, schemes in 1999, was initially introduced on an administrative basis, with the intention that regulations to underpin its operation would be introduced at a later date, following amendment of the relevant section of the 1970 Health Act. However, amendment of the Act was delayed, and, following further consideration and legal advice obtained from the Attorney General's office in October 2000, regu lations made under the existing section 59 of the 1970 Act, fixing the threshold for the new scheme at €53.33, came into effect on 1 March 2001. Given that, as has been pointed out previously, claimants derived greater overall benefits under the new scheme, as reflected in the significant increase in spending, the issue of possible refunds was not addressed at the time.
Following a review by my Department of the position in relation to this issue, it has now been decided that a process should be put in place for assessing applications for refunds from persons who may be owed money arising from the introduction of the DPS.
There are significant administrative issues to be resolved before a process can be put in place, and my Department is addressing these issues in consultation with the relevant bodies. When an appropriate procedure is agreed, applications will then be invited through public notice, and each application for refunds will be considered under the terms of the agreed procedure. The final cost and the numbers qualifying for reimbursement will not be known until all applications are received and processed.
