Vol. 541 No. 2
516 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason medication (details supplied) is not available on the general medical scheme; if he plans to make this medication available on the general medical scheme; if the medication is available only on prescription; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21770/01]
In order for any item of medicine to be included in the common list of items reimbursable under the community drug schemes it must comply with a list of criteria. These range from the uses for and licensing of medicines to the pricing of products. One of the criteria stipulates that in order for a bulk forming product, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, to be eligible for reimbursement it must be authorised and recommended for colostomy and ileostomy control. In addition the product should be one that is ordinarily supplied to the public only on foot of a medical prescription.
The product referred to is one of a group of products which were delisted in 1982 on the basis of their availability without a prescription and their relatively low cost.
