Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Apr 1995

Vol. 451 No. 7

Written Answers. - GMS Drugs Bill.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Ceist:

33 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that the general medical services drugs bill was £3 million over target in spite of the incentives granted to doctors under the prescribing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7063/95]

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

50 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if the national general medical service bill for 1995 has exceeded the Government's target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6685/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan

, Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 50 together.

The total cost of drugs and medicines prescribed in the general medical services scheme for the year 1994 amounted to £147.5 million which was £3.5 million or 2.4 per cent above the target of £144 million set at the beginning of the year. This represents an increase of 5.7 per cent over the 1993 outturn figure for GMS drugs expenditure and is a significant improvement on the position prior to the introduction of the incentive based indicative drug target scheme where annual increases were of the order of between 10 per cent and 13 per cent. The Department and the health boards have been involved in discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation over the last few years which have resulted in agreement that there is scope for improvement in the quality of prescribing in the GMS and for a more efficient use of resources in the interests of patient care. As part of the recently completed GMS review, both sides have committed themselves to build on the considerable progress already made in the pursuit of these objectives.