Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 7

Written Answers. - General Medical Service.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

127 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health whether he has received any indication as to the way in which a number of major GMS practices made a substantial reduction in running costs in the past 12 months; whether he sought or received any indication as to the source of the reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I presume that the Deputy is referring to savings achieved by a number of practices under the indicative drug target scheme.

In discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation in the context of the GMS review it was agreed that, in common with other developed countries, medicines are not always prescribed in the most effective manner in this country and that, accordingly, 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.

Each doctor was, accordingly, encouraged to examine his-her existing prescribing practices with a view to availing of any available opportunities to make prescribing more effective and less costly for patients. To assist in this process doctors were provided with indicative drug targets.

The operation of the indicative target scheme resulted in savings amounting to £5.4 million being achieved in 1993 by 645 doctors. The amount of money involved means that on average savings of £8,000 were achieved by those doctors who were under budget. I understand that the preliminary findings from analyses indicate savings were effected through a variety of measures, including an increased use of generic drugs and a revision in prescribing practices in relation to both the dosage and volume-duration of medicine prescribed.

In accordance with the provisions of the scheme, half the savings made will be made available to the individual doctors concerned for practice development projects which receive the prior approval of the health board. This resource will be allocated towards improving facilities within general practice for the purposes of providing a more comprehensive and better quality service for patients.