Vol. 557 No. 5
190 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the monthly cost to the Exchequer of the drugs refund scheme when the threshold for refund was set at ?53.40; the monthly cost of the scheme when the threshold was raised to ?65 per month; and his target for the monthly cost of this scheme when the charges anticipated in the 2003 Estimates are published. [22986/02]
192 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the changes he proposes to make in the threshold for the drugs refund scheme in 2003; and his plans to impose a means test on this scheme. [22988/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 192 together.
The drugs payment scheme with a monthly threshold of £42 replaced the drug refund scheme and the drug cost subsidisation scheme with effect from 1 July 1999. The monthly cost to the Exchequer of the scheme when the threshold for refund was set at €53.33, £42, and the monthly cost of the scheme when the threshold was raised to €65 per month – 1 August 2002 – are set out in the following table. August 2002 is the latest date for which figures are available.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding changes to the drugs payment scheme is not to hand as a final decision regarding restructuring, if any, has not yet been made.
|
Month |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
|
January |
£7,584m |
£14,477m |
€15,751m |
|
|
February |
£6,695m |
£13,316m |
€13,622m |
|
|
March |
£4,899m |
£14,937m |
€15,097m |
|
|
April |
£8,143m |
£14,627m |
€14,273m |
|
|
May |
£9,315m |
£15,486m |
€18,994m |
|
|
June |
£9,115m |
£15,401m |
€17,973m |
|
|
July |
£5,408m |
£9,226m |
£15,106m |
€17,364m |
|
August |
£6,064m |
£9,451m |
£14,717m |
€15,170m |
|
September |
£6,590m |
£9,863m |
£13,903m |
|
|
October |
£6,653m |
£10,316m |
£14,985m |
|
|
November |
£7,575m |
£10,267m |
£14,787m |
|
|
December |
£8,140m |
10,869m |
£15,876m |
