Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:1605. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of reducing the drugs payment scheme threshold to €50 and €100, respectively. [33543/19]
View answerTuesday, 23 July 2019
Questions (1605)
Written answers
The Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines. In line with this commitment, I announced a reduction in the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) threshold, from €134 to €124 a month, as part of Budget 2019 and this reduction was implemented on 1 April 2019.
Under the scheme, no individual or family pays more than €124 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
I intend to consider further proposals for reductions in the DPS threshold, in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and with regard to the funding available.
The estimated full year cost of reducing the DPS monthly threshold to €100 is €25.2 million.
The estimated full year cost of reducing the DPS monthly threshold to €50 is €84.1 million.