Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1974. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of abolishing all prescription charges for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41514/22]
View answerPrescription charges were introduced in the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2010, to address the rising costs in the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme.
On 1st of November 2020, GMS prescription charges were reduced by €0.50c for all medical card holders.
- For persons over 70, the charges were reduced to €1 per item with a maximum monthly charge of €10 per person or family per month.
- For persons under 70, the charges were reduced to €1.50 per item with a maximum monthly charge of €15 per person or family.
It is estimated that the full year cost of abolishing prescription charges for all eligible persons would be approximately €63.6m.
