Terence Flanagan
Question:668. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce prescription charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32202/14]
View answerThursday, 17 July 2014
Questions (668, 691)
Billy Kelleher
Question:691. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount collected in prescription charges for medical card prescriptions in 2011, 2012, 2013; and the projected amount to be collected in 2014. [32555/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 691 together.
As announced in Budget 2014, it was necessary to increase the prescription charge due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €619 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.
Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the Health Service Executive or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. There are no plans to amend the prescription charge.
The revenue raised from the prescription charge is as follows:
2011 - €27.604 million
2012 - €29.70 million
2013 - €85.60 million
2014 - €120 million (projected)