Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drugs Refund Scheme.

John Dennehy

Question:

444 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of the drug refund subsidisation scheme on an annual basis; his views on whether a flat fee basis for re-imbursement of drug costs by the general medical scheme to pharmacists will be a more cost effective and equitable alternative to the current system of a small dispensing fee supplemented by a mark up on the ingredient cost of the products dispensed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18830/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I presume the Deputy is referring to the drugs payment scheme – DPS. The DPS was introduced in July 1999. The cost of the scheme is as follows: 2000, which was the first full year of operation, €139.67 million; 2001, €177.76 million; and 2002, the most recent figure available, €192.37 million.

The issue of fees paid to pharmacists was raised in the Brennan report, Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Services, which was published recently. This matter will be considered by my Department, in the context of the implementation of the report's recommendations.