Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was talking to a locum pharmacist working in County Louth. A lady who was on the drug payments scheme came in to him. She had a medical card but previously it had been taken off her. She had a medical condition. She was late for her medication. He wanted to know why and she said that she did not have the money in her account. She was taking the medication every second day, which, obviously, would not suffice. She still had not a sufficient amount in her account. In fairness, the locum paid for it. He said that he did not get into pharmacy to refuse people medication. This is a working woman with a family, under severe pressures like a significant number of people. Along with cost-of-living actions, we also need to examine the drug payments scheme and even how people are issued medical cards. In some cases, they have been taken off them. The locum spoke about the fact that a number of people have come in whose card states that they have a medical card up until 2024 but then it is refused. There are people with particular conditions who will need particular help.

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