Vol. 401 No. 5
10 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the latest position regarding his discussions with the pharmacists regarding a new drugs refund scheme; the number of occasions on which his Department have met with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union within the past 12 months; if further meetings are planned; if any deadline has been set for these negotiations; when he expects that a new scheme will be in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department recently reached agreement with the contractor's committee of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union on the introduction of a new drug cost subsidisation scheme. The contractors committee have recommended the draft agreement to the members of the IPU for acceptance. I expect the result of the ballot of the general membership in the near future.
There have been nine meetings involving my officials and representatives of the IPU since 17 July, 1989. No further meetings are planned pending the outcome of the ballot.
Assuming a positive response to the ballot I would intend that the new scheme would come into effect in September, 1990. The necessary administrative arrangements, involving the eight health boards and the General Medical Services (Payments) Board will be put in place as quickly as possible and I will make a detailed announcement on the workings of the scheme within the next few weeks.
I should like to thank the Minister for his reply and welcome the fact that progress has been made with the pharmaceutical union. Do I take it that no decision has been reached by that union on this matter?
The contractor's committee have recommended to the members of the IPU that they accept the scheme. Members of the union are balloting on the scheme and I hope to have the result of that in the near future.
Will the Minister accept that some people are in a serious position, particularly those who have a large outlay on drugs each month? Will he consider including asthmatics in the long term illness scheme?
I do not contemplate expanding the long term illness scheme at present but I am satisfied that the new scheme when in operation will be of tremendous benefit to a number of sufferers from long term illnesses, including asthmatics. It is important, when talking about people suffering from chronic illnesses, that we remember that the cost of drugs for skin diseases can be far in excess of the cost of drugs for other illnesses, including asthma. It is important that we recognise all those who are suffering from illnesses that need continuous treatment. The new scheme will cater for everybody who has a long term illness.
What does the Minister anticipate will be the annual cost of the scheme? Will withholding tax be applied to the payments made to pharmacists? Will the £28 per month limit apply to a calendar month?
The details of the scheme will be announced following the ballot. There should not be an annual cost. What is involved is a marginal administrative cost. Effectively what has been happening to date is that people have been paying, for example, £100 per month for their drugs and waiting five to six months to receive £72 back. Under the new scheme those people will not have to pay the £72; they will pay £28.
One of the reasons for the delay in payments is that when one pays, for example, £56, health boards average that out. They will ask how long the prescription is expected to last and if it is to last more than two months the patient will not get anything. The question which must be asked is if the bill in the pharmacy amounts to £56, will one only have to pay £28 or will the same clause apply?
This scheme only applies to those suffering from a longterm illness and not to those who pay £56 once a year. They should continue to apply in the normal way. This scheme only applies to those on continuous medication.
