Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Not in Galway. Galway is unique in not having a warfarin clinic. This is because of the glut and the need to get it into the community.

The health promotion evidence is all about making the healthy choice the easier choice. Cochrane Collaboration, an international drugs review body that assesses health systems and the effectiveness of drugs, found that introducing prescription charges reduces the cost of the drug bill in the short term. However, it found that introducing charges for people on low incomes, and even high incomes, leads to a reduction in drug use for life-sustaining drugs. These are the drugs that count, not the ones Senator Ó Brolcháin referred to, which drugs would not be necessary if one simply went to the doctor, went to bed, had a hot drink and got some rest. I refer to life-sustaining drugs for chronic illnesses, diabetes, asthma and psychological conditions.

The Cochrane Collaboration report found that those with mental health conditions are more likely to stop drug use for financial reasons. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international drugs review body that assesses health systems internationally. It found there was an increase in admissions to accident and emergency departments, hospitals and nursing homes because patients had reduced their intake of drugs because they could not afford them.

The Minister is imposing a charge of 50 cent in the short term but it will cost the health system more in the longer term. Six years ago she said she wanted a world-class health system. This is not the way to do it. She will clog up accident and emergency departments further. Her approach is not workable because there are no primary health care centres in the communities.