Limerick East): The drug cost subsidisation scheme caters for people who do not have a medical card and are certified by their general practitioner as having a long-term medical condition with a regular and ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines in excess of £32 per month.
Last year the health boards carried out a review of the community drugs schemes generally. In the case of the DCSS, that review showed that there were a considerable number of people who, although holding a DCSS card, had ceased to use it, indicating that they no longer had an ongoing monthly requirement for prescribed medicines in excess of £32 per month in accordance with the terms of the scheme. A subsequent review by the Eastern Health Board of the drug cost subsidisation scheme in its own area confirmed this position. Accordingly, card holders who did not meet the criterion for eligibility under this scheme were written to by the board and advised that arrangements are being made to cancel their cards. The board advised such persons that they may avail of the drugs refund scheme, which covers expenditure by the whole family, where any expenditure on prescribed medication in excess of £90 in a calendar quarter is refunded by the health board.
The board has confirmed that should a person at a future date have an ongoing requirement for prescribed drugs and medicines in excess of £32 per month, the person will be granted a new drug cost subsidisation scheme card.
The granting of a DCSS card in any individual case is a matter for the particular health board concerned and my Department has issued no instructions to health boards in this matter.
