Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

To delete all words after “That Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:

notes that:- the recent €12 million payment to the HSE from an overpayment of pharmacy fees highlights a wider, systemic problem with our health service;

- drug fees doubled between 2002 and 2008 under the previous Fianna Fáil-led Administration; and

- cuts to bed capacity, staff levels and earnings of health workers commenced by Fianna Fáil have been continued by the present Fine Gael-led Administration; and calls on the Government to:

- desist the stealth removal of drugs that are covered by the General Medical Services medical card;

- abolish prescription charges;

- reverse the cuts to earnings and staffing levels of health care workers; and

- set up a national State Pharmacy that can offer drugs at prices equivalent to other European Union countries such as Denmark.”

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