Ivan Yates
Ceist:22 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health when it is proposed to introduce a replacement for the drugs refund scheme by way of a subsidy scheme; and the steps he will take to reduce drug costs this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Drugs Refund Scheme.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:27 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he has received any recent representations from the Asthma Society; the action he proposes to take in relation to these representations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Tom Kitt
Ceist:32 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for Health when he will implement the subsidy scheme for asthmatics.
Dick Spring
Ceist:59 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health if discussions with the pharmacists in relation to the new drug refund scheme have been finalised; when details of the scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:60 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Irish Pharamaceutical Union to recommend rejection of the proposed new drugs refund scheme; the steps he intends to take to ensure the scheme goes ahead should the members of the Irish Pharamaceutical Union vote to reject it; if his attention has been drawn to the severe difficulties caused to non-medical card holders with large drug bills, due to the failure to introduce the new scheme; if, pending the introduction of a new scheme he will make arrangements to supply drugs free to asthmatics and other similar categories on the same basis as they are supplied free to medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Gerry O'Sullivan
Ceist:64 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered and costed the inclusion of asthma in the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:72 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to reduce the £28 per month threshold on the current drug refund scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
John Bruton
Ceist:179 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health when the current negotiations with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on the terms in relation to pharmacists' involvement in the new drug cost subsidisation scheme commenced; the number of meetings which have taken place; and when he expects to be able to announce details of the new drug cost subsidisation scheme.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:180 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Health when he intends to implement the subsidy scheme for asthmatics which he announced over a year ago.
Seán Ryan
Ceist:184 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the delay in the commencement of the proposed new drug cost subsidisation scheme.
Nuala Fennell
Ceist:190 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement regarding the delay in implementing the promised drugs refund scheme as sought by the Asthma Society of Ireland.
Liam Hyland
Ceist:199 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Health when he proposes implementing the subsidy scheme for asthmatics.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 27, 32, 59, 60, 64, 72, 179, 180, 184, 190 and 199 together.
The proposed new scheme would benefit persons with limited eligibility who have a regular and continuous requirement for prescription medication due to a long-term medical condition. Such persons would pay the normal retail cost of their prescribed medication up to a maximum of £28 per month. The pharmacist would recoup the balance of the cost from the General Medical Services (Payments) Board.
A number of Deputies in their questions have made reference to asthma and asthmatics. I would expect that the drug cost subsidisation scheme would be most beneficial to all persons who suffer from long-term illness, including asthma, and I had hoped that the new scheme could have been introduced some time ago.
However, negotiations with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on the terms of their involvement in the proposed scheme were more protracted than had initially been anticipated. The first meeting with the union on the terms in relation to pharmacists' involvement in the new drug cost subsidisation scheme was held on 10 March 1989. A further 15 meetings have taken place in this respect at which both representatives of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union and my Department have participated. The present position is that the Irish Pharmaceutical Union is in the process of balloting its members on the proposals for an agreement in relation to the drug cost subsidisation scheme. I expect an early result from the ballot and pending the outcome it would not be appropriate for me to make any further statement.
The position in relation to the reduction in drug costs is that an interdepartmental committee, representative of the Departments of Health, Finance and Industry and Commerce have recently submitted a report to me on future options in relation to containing the State's total drug bill. The report will be considered shortly by the Government.
Does the Minister recall promising in this House in February 1989 that he would introduce a drug subsidy scheme in August 1989? Does he recall that subsequently, in response to a Dáil question, he said the scheme would be introduced late in 1989? Does he recall saying later that it would be introduced imminently, that is, early in 1990? Many people suffering from long-term illnesses are disappointed with the delay and I should like to ask the Minister to give the House a date for the introduction of the new scheme. Those people are suffering hardship due to the Minister's abolition of the VHI drug refund scheme.
As I pointed out to the Deputy, discussions have been taking place with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union. They were more protracted than was anticipated and the union are at present balloting their members. We are awaiting the outcome of that ballot.
With regard to drug costs I should like to ask the Minister if he intends to publish the report of the interdepartmental committee in view of the vast sums of public money involved? Will the Minister give the House an indication whether he intends to renegotiate a further deal between his Department and FICI this year?
It is not my intention to publish the report. On the question of a deal with FICI, I should like to tell the Deputy that I gave FICI an indication that it was my intention to terminate the agreement which has been in place since 1983. The purchase of drugs at the very best possible cost to taxpayers is under discussion.