Drugs Payment Scheme Administration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Questions (656)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

656. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if there are any regulations or restrictions in place for the drugs payment scheme that prevent a patient from obtaining two months supply of their prescription in any one month period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54416/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS), no individual or family pays more than €132 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. The Health Service Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Service which is responsible for reimbursing community pharmacists under the DPS, advised all community pharmacists in 1999 on the establishment of the DPS that no more than 12 payments should be made in a year.