Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Nicotine Replacement Therapies.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

399 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of nicotine replacement therapy which has been prescribed since the therapy was included on the general medical scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26351/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

Nicotine replacement therapy was made available free of charge to medical card holders on prescription only with effect from April 2001. Since then, the level of prescribing has been as follows:

Month	Number of timesprescribed	Ingredient Cost
April 2001	3,716	£90,900115,419
May 2001	4,566	£111,900142,084
June 2001	4,307	£106,800135,608
July 2001	3,753	£95,100120,752
Total	16,345	£404,700513,863

Information for more recent months is not available at present.

My decision to make nicotine replacement therapies available to medical card holders was taken on foot of recommendations made by the cardiovascular health strategy group and the advisory forum established to support the task force in the implementation of the strategy. Having regard to the recommendations made to me I decided, as an exceptional measure, to make the full range of nicotine replacement therapies available on prescription to medical card holders only. Evidence shows that the lower socio-economic groups have a higher incidence of smoking and spend a higher proportion of their disposable income on tobacco. I consider that this group is in greatest need of assistance in quitting the habit and responded accordingly.