Vol. 444 No. 6
181 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether he received from the health boards information on the delays being encountered by members of the public in receiving drug refund payments following the submission of their application; and if he will set out, by way of a charter or otherwise, the maximum duration of delay which members of the public should have to put up with.
The drugs refund scheme covers expenditure by a family on prescribed medication. Under the scheme where an individual or a family's expenditure on prescribed drugs and medicines for use in a calendar quarter exceeds £90, they are eligible to claim a refund of the balance of their expenditure in excess of that amount from the relevant health board. This scheme is intended to assist individuals with occasional requirements for prescribed medication. I understand from the health boards that the average length of time to process a claim is five weeks.
Persons who suffer from an ongoing medical condition can avail of the drug cost subsidisation scheme when they are certified as having a long term medical condition with a regular and ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines. Persons who qualify for inclusion in this scheme will not have to spend more than £32 in any month on prescribed drugs and medicines at the pharmacy counter. The General Medical Services (Payments) Board arranges for payment of the balance of the cost to the community pharmacist, thus eliminating the question of a waiting period by patients for refunds.
