I propose to take Questions Nos. 176, 179 and 180 together.
HSE expenditure on drugs and non-drug items (dressings, etc.) under the GMS and community drug schemes for the years 2007 to 2011, including mark ups and dispensing fees for pharmacists and wholesalers, is set out in the following table:
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
Cost of drugs prescribed under the GMS and community drug schemes
|
€1,851,930,928
|
€1,910,628,331
|
€2,010,085,866
|
€1,903,914,612
|
€1,746,983,378
|
Note: Data source for 2007 to 2010 — Primary Care Reimbursement Service's Statistical Analysis of Claims and Payments. Data source for 2011 — Primary Care Reimbursement Service (unpublished data).
The relevant figures for the Drug Payment Scheme (which are included in the above table) are set out in the following table:
|
2011
|
2010
|
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
Cost of payments under the drug payment scheme
|
€142,410,824
|
€173,440,000
|
€263,470,000
|
€315,030,000
|
€310,110,000
|
Note: Data source for 2007 to 2010 — Primary Care Reimbursement Service's Statistical Analysis of Claims and Payments. Data source for 2011 — Primary Care Reimbursement Service (unpublished data).
In 2011, the cost associated with wholesale distribution under the GMS and community drugs schemes was €128,814,961, the total cost of fees paid to community pharmacy contractors was €345,509,388 and the cost of retail mark-up paid to community pharmacy contractors was €39,189,521. The balance of €1,338,417,058 represents the ex-factory cost of drugs and non-drug items plus applicable VAT.
The published HSE Performance Report for January 2012 gives a projected cost for GMS and community drugs schemes in 2012 of €1,745,736,000, including €162,910,000 for the Drug Payment Scheme. A breakdown of projected costs associated with wholesale distribution is not available. The projected cost of pharmacy fees under the GMS is €263,108,000. The projected cost of retail margins and fees under the DPS and LTI is unavailable. There is no retail margin under GMS.