Louise O'Reilly
Question:144. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of reducing the medical card prescription charge by one euro; and the estimated cost of abolishing prescription charges [27254/19]
View answerThursday, 27 June 2019
Questions (144, 156)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the estimated additional cost of extending free prescription medicines to the entire population and of abolishing prescription charges. [27266/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 156 together.
The estimated cost of reducing the prescription charge by one euro for all medical card holders is €47 m.
The estimated cost of abolishing prescription charges is €82 m.
It is not possible to estimate the additional cost of extending free prescription medicines to the entire population as the HSE does not have reliable data in relation to sub-threshold DPS and private dispensing.