Vol. 394 No. 8
56 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the 1982 decision to exclude a range of drugs and medicines from the General Medical Service is valid, given the judgment of the Supreme Court in a 1983 case (details supplied).
The implications for eligibility for health services of the judgment referred to by the Deputy were considered in my Department at that time. I understand that it was considered that the judgment did not impact on the decision to withdraw specific drugs from GMS availability. The facts in relation to the withdrawal of the drugs to which the Deputy refers is that these were over the counter items and there were alternatives available to medical practitioners providing services under the GMS where they were considered medically essential and appropriate to the requirements of the individual circumstances.
