Vol. 515 No. 3
201 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to review the additional £10 charge per month introduced under the new drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6009/00]
The drug payment scheme, with a threshold of £42 per month per individual or family, was introduced on 1 July 1999 and replaced the drug cost subsidisation scheme, DCSS, and drug refund scheme, DRS. The primary aim of the scheme is to bring about important improvements over the previous schemes and the scheme is designed to be more streamlined, user friendly and to significantly improve the cash flow for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. With regard to the increase in the threshold, the position is that the new threshold refers to family expenditure as opposed to the previous threshold in the DCSS which relates to individual expenditure. In addition, there has been no increase in the thresholds for the DCSS or DRS since 1991.
People who are unable without undue hardship to arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. Eligibility for a medical card is solely a matter for the chief executive officer of the relevant health board to decide. In determining eligibility for a medical card, the local health board has regard to the financial circumstances of the applicant. Income guidelines are used by health boards to assist in determining a person's eligibility. However, even though a person's income exceeds the guidelines, the person may still be awarded a medical card if the chief executive officer considers that the person's medical needs or other circumstances would justify this. Medical cards may also be issued to individual family members on this basis.
In the circumstances, I do not propose to make any adjustments to the £42 threshold.
