Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2004
295 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider making the nicotine patch available to medical card holders and under the drugs payment scheme in an effort to assist those wishing to stop smoking. [14146/04]
View answerNicotine replacement therapies are available to medical card holders. The cardiovascular health strategy group recommended that an advisory forum be established to support the task force in the implementation of the strategy. A decision was taken after its recommendations to supply NRTs.
There is a common list of reimbursable medicines for the general medical services and drug payment schemes. This ensures equity in the range of medicines paid for by the State. In order for a product to be included on the list it must satisfy a number of criteria, including that it is ordinarily supplied to the public by medical prescription only and that it should not be advertised or promoted to the public.
NRTs would not normally satisfy these criteria as they are generally available over-the-counter and may be advertised directly to the public. Recommendations were made to the Minister and he decided, as an exceptional measure, to make the full range of NRTs available on prescription to medical card holders. Evidence shows that lower socio-economic groups have a higher incidence of smoking and spend a higher proportion of disposable income on tobacco. It is considered that this group is in greatest need of assistance to quit smoking. At present there are no plans to make NRTs available under the other community drug schemes.
