Peter Burke
Ceist:1383. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if reducing the prescription charges for medical card holders and pensioners has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32675/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 July 2018
Ceisteanna (1383)
Freagraí scríofa
The Programme for Partnership Government contains a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing the annual co-payment on the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) and reducing prescription charges for medical card holders.
In line with this commitment, in Budget 2018 I announced a reduction in the DPS monthly threshold of €10, from €144 to €134. This benefit was introduced from 1 January 2018.
The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines, by ensuring that no one pays more than the set monthly threshold towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
I also announced a reduction in the prescription charge to €2, subject to a monthly cap of €20, for all medical card holders under the age of 70. This reduction was also introduced from 1 January 2018.
These announcements follow on from my commitment in Budget 2017, where I reduced the prescription charge to €2 for all medical card holders aged 70 or over.
Further reductions in the prescription charge and the DPS are matters which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and to the funding available.