Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
46 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of anti-depressants prescribed each year here, in particular the number of anti-depressants prescribed under the medical card; if he intends to introduce measures to decrease the number of anti-depressants given out to persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18485/04]
View answer57 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on a recent television programme (details supplied) regarding the number of persons taking anti-depressants here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18437/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 57 together.
Prescriptions are issued by health professionals based on the symptoms of the presenting patient at the time of consultation. The level of medication prescribed, therefore, is a matter of clinical decision for the particular doctor involved.
Prescriptions for anti-depressants may be issued by either general practitioners or consultants in a variety of locations, including general practice, community psychiatric facilities or private or public psychiatric hospitals. Figures provided by the General Medical Services (Payments) Board for the year ending 31 December 2003 show that 205,764 medical cardholders were prescribed anti-depressants at a cost of €34,404,555. A total of 1,178 people were prescribed anti-depressants under the long-term illness scheme at a cost of €203,761 while statistics for the drugs payment scheme, DPS, indicate that 92,022 people were prescribed anti-depressants at a cost of €16,197,705. With regard to the drugs payment scheme, my Department does not have access to information where monthly expenditure by an individual in a community pharmacy is less than the monthly DPS threshold of €78. The above figures do not include certain categories of patients resident in the Eastern Regional Health Authority Area for whom separate arrangements are in place. I have asked the Eastern Regional Health Authority to forward the additional information directly to the Deputy as a matter of urgency.
An expert group on mental health policy was established in August 2003 to prepare a new national policy framework for the mental health services, updating the 1984 policy document, Planning for the Future. The group consists of 18 widely experienced people who are serving in their personal capacity. The membership encompasses a wide range of knowledge and a balance of views on many issues affecting the performance and delivery of care in our mental health services. All areas of mental health policy and service provision will be examined in the course of the group's work.
