Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 July 2020
257. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the reductions made for prescription charges for medical card holders since the adoption of Sláintecare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17851/20]
View answerPrescription charges were introduced to address the rising costs in the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme. The charge, which is set by regulation, has been varied on a number of occasions.
The Health Services (Prescription charges) Regulations 2017 (SI 553/2017) reduced the charge to €2 per item for all eligible persons with a monthly limit of €20.
A further amendment in 2018 under the Health Services (Prescription Charges) (Over 70s) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 639 of 2018) reduced the charge to €1.50 per item for persons over 70 years, with a cap of €15 per person or family per month.
