Vol. 498 No. 3
129 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce recognition of homeopath medicine for treatment under the general medical services and drug refund schemes, if necessary upon referral by a general practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27109/98]
The position is that medicines that are reimburseable in whole or in part under the general medical services scheme or the community drug schemes are medicines that are ordinarily supplied on foot of a prescription issued by a registered medical practitioner. The medicines reimburseable must be ‘allopathic' medicinal products which are the subject of a product authorisation — PA — under the Medicinal Products (Licensing and Sale) Regulations, 1998, or an authorisation granted or renewed by the European Commission in accordance with EU Council Regulation No. (EEC) 2309/93, that lay down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products.
The granting of such authorisations ensures that the medicinal products concerned have satisfied certain minimum standards regarding their quality, safety and efficacy. The position is that homeopathic therapies are not the subject of such authorisations. Accordingly, there are no plans for the reimbursement of homeopathic products on the general medical services scheme or the community drugs schemes.
