Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 5

Written Answers. - Drugs Budgeting Scheme.

Liz O'Donnell

Ceist:

100 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that general medical service patients suffering depression are being adversely affected by his Department's drug budgeting scheme in view of the fact that certain cost-conscious general practitioners will not prescribe the safer, more effective anti-depressants for their illnesses; the plans, if any, he has to amend the GMS drugs budgeting scheme by putting SSRI anti-depressant drugs outside its scope to ensure that depressed GMS patients can have as equal and fair access to the drugs, Seroxat and Prozac, as have private patients.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The indicative drug target scheme was introduced in 1993 following agreement with the Irish Medical Organisation to the effect that medicines are not always prescribed in the most effective manner and that there was significant potential for an improvement in prescribing practice leading to better patient care and better use of the resources in the development of general practitioner services.

The duty and obligation of individual doctors to provide the most appropriate management for each patient who presents and, in so doing, to utilise resources available for the optimum care of patients individually and collectively is emphasised by all parties to the scheme. In this context the right of the doctor to prescribe as he/she considers necessary remains absolutely in place and there is no limitation on the range of items from which he/she can choose to prescribe.