Vol. 569 No. 3
122 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children when the promised advertisements will be placed inviting patients who were overcharged under the drugs refund schemes as a result of the failure to make the appropriate regulations on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17550/03]
The drugs payment scheme, DPS, replaced the drug cost subsidisation, DCSS, and drugs refund, DRS, schemes in 1999. It was initially introduced on an administrative basis, with the intention that regulations to underpin its operation would be introduced 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, regulations 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.
Following a review by my Department of the position in relation to this issue, it was decided that a process should be put in place for assessing applications for refunds to people who may be owed money arising from the introduction of the DPS.
The Deputy will be pleased to learn that the administrative arrangements have now been put in place and that applications for refunds will be invited through public notice later this week.
