Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:310 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children when the drug refund scheme was increased from £32 to £42; and if it was by regulation. [25423/02]
Written Answers. - Drugs Refund Scheme.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:341 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if, as has been reported in the media, his Department has decided to withhold the refunding to patients of overpayments made by them under the drugs payment scheme; the amount of overpayment made by patients; the reason for withholding the repayments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25923/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 341 together.
The drugs payment scheme replaced the drug cost subsidisation and drugs refund schemes on 1 July 1999. The DPS provided that families only have to meet the first £42 (€53.33) a month of spending on approved prescribed medicines. The drug cost subsidisation scheme threshold was £32 (€40.63) a month per certified individual, and for the drugs refund scheme it was £90 (€114.28) a quarter for each eligible person and dependants.
The DPS was initially introduced on an administrative basis, with the intention that regulations to underpin its operation would be introduced at a later date. Regulations fixing the threshold for the new scheme at £42 (€53.33) per month could have been made in July 1999 under section 59 of the Health Act, 1970 but, as Government approval had been obtained to amend that section, it was decided to defer making the regulations until the Act was actually amended. At that time it was envisaged that the amending provision would be enacted very quickly.
Subsequently, however, difficulties and delays arose in securing drafting time and parliamentary time for new legislation. Following further consideration and legal advice obtained from the Attorney General's office in October 2000, regulations to fix the threshold at £42 (€53.33) per month were made under the existing section 59 of the 1970 Act and came into effect on 1 March 2001. The aggregate financial benefits for patients under the DPS are clearly significantly greater than the old schemes. The total patient benefit under the drug cost subsidisation and drugs refund schemes in 1988 was £75 million and that was the last full year of operation. In contrast, the DPS subvention to patients was £110 million in 2000, the first full year of operation, and rose to £140 in 2001, an increase of 87% in three years.
As claimants derived greater overall benefits, as reflected in the significant increase in spending, the issue of possible refunds was not addressed at that time. My Department has reviewed the position in relation to this question. The value of individual refunds would be between €1 and €250, with most refunds at the lower end of the range. Many claimants would have also received tax relief on these expenses. The fact that overall the new scheme has delivered a considerable aggregate improvement in supporting individuals and families with drug costs and the administrative complexity and costs that would arise, my Department does not propose taking any further action on this matter.