Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:1997. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the expected cost of the contract for pharmacists to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19537/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 21 April 2021
Ceisteanna (1997)
Freagraí scríofa
GPs and pharmacists are private practitioners, and as such require the setting of fees payable for the administration of vaccines against Covid-19; whereas practice nurses are employed by GPs and paid by their employer. Where fees are paid to GPs, these are intended to include the full costs of scheduling and administering the vaccine and must cover not only GP pay, but also the additional payments to practice nurses and practice administrators who will be involved in providing vaccinations outside of normal clinic hours, as well as the additional costs of cleaning surgeries. Public healthcare workers are remunerated on a salary basis under the terms of their employment.
The fees payable to GPs and pharmacists were set following consultation with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish Pharmacy Union.
The fee structure agreed by government provides for a payment of €25 per dose of vaccine administered, plus a once-off administration fee of €10 per patient. Thus, in the case of vaccines requiring two doses the total cost per patient will be €60, while if a single-dose vaccine becomes available the cost per patient would be €35.
While the Government believes that these rates reflect both the level of resources necessary for GPs and pharmacists to administer the vaccine to large numbers of patients in a safe manner they also reflect a significant financial commitment on the part of the State. Thus, they will be reviewed within six months in order to ensure that the Vaccination Programme is being delivered as efficiently and economically as possible in keeping with the requirements of public health considerations.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.