Jim Higgins
Ceist:176 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Health the monthly number of prescriptions made under the general medical service scheme in 1990.
Written Answers. - Prescription Statistics.
I understand from the General Medical Services (Payments) Board that it is still in the process of extracting and bringing together relevant statistical information on the operation of the GMS scheme in 1990 for the purpose of making this information publicly available through the issue of its annual report. Accordingly statistics on drug costs for the GMS scheme for 1990, in total and under particular headings, have not as yet been published by the board.
The average number of GMS prescription forms per month dispensed in pharmacies was 594,298 in 1989 and 587, 882 in 1988. The average number of prescription items dispensed was 1,190,172 in 1989 and 1,151,471 in 1988.