asked the Minister for Health the cost or estimated cost of the increased expenditure, if any, to date, incurred by local health authorities following the issue of his Department's circular of September, 1961, to the effect that persons not included in the General Medical Register may in certain very limited circumstances be entitled to free, or partially free, drugs and medicines.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drugs and Medicines.
10.
The information normally supplied to my Department by health authorities does not show separately the cost of drugs issued to persons benefiting from the arrangement to which the Deputy refers, and from preliminary enquiries I have made, I understand that many health authorities do not segregate the figures in their accounts. I am, however, asking health authorities to furnish me in respect of the year 1962-63, the first complete year after the circular was issued, with actual figures where possible or, where this is not possible, with estimates of the cost. This information, of course, cannot become available until after the close of the financial year. If the Deputy will repeat the question after Easter, I shall supply the information in so far as it is available.