Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Drugs Payment Scheme.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

472 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason gluten free foods for celiac sufferers have been removed from the list of medications eligible under the drugs refund and drugs cost subsidisation schemes; the annual savings resulting from this move; and if he will now reverse the decision in view of the hardship it is causing and the extra cost of £42 per month already imposed on these people. [17645/99]

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

485 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a gluten free bread (details supplied) is not listed under the non-dietary items on the General Medical Services in view of its inclusion until the announcement of the new scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17847/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 485 together.

The new drug payment scheme replaced the drug cost subsidisation scheme – DCSS – and the drug refund scheme – DRS – with effect from 1 July 1999 and merges the best elements of the two previous schemes. For example, the drug payment scheme is more user friendly than the DRS and is designed to improve the cash flow situation of families and individuals. Unlike the DCSS, there are no qualifying criteria for inclusion in the new scheme. Payment thresholds under the DRS and the DCSS were £90 per quarter and £32 per month respectively. The threshold for the new scheme is £42 per month per family unit. With regard to the increase, I would point out that there had been no increase in the thresholds for the DRS or the DCSS since 1991.

A common list of reimbursable items was introduced for the general medical services scheme and the drug payment scheme to ensure equity in relation to the products reimbursed by the State under both schemes. The list of reimbursable food items to which persons registered under the drugs payment scheme are entitled is therefore in line with those items available to medical card holders and includes breads, bread mixes, flours, and pizza bases. It is considered that the range of such items available under State reimbursement schemes provides a reasonable choice and persons requiring items which are not reimbursable would be expected to meet the full cost of such items.

In 1998, the total cost of claims reimbursed in respect of coeliac foods under the DCSS was £192,563, of which £102,588 was in respect of foods which are on the common list of reimbursable items. Of the £89,975 reimbursed for coeliac foods which are now no longer reimbursable, over £42,500 was in respect of cakes and biscuits.