Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will reconsider the inclusion of the drug Melatonin for reimbursement in the drug payment scheme in view of the fact that it is being prescribed by the medical profession to promote sleep. [35368/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There is a common list of reimbursable medicines for the General Medical Services and Drug Payment schemes. This list is reviewed and amended monthly, as new products become available and deletions are notified. For an item to be included on the list, it must comply with published criteria, including authorisation status as appropriate, price and, in certain cases the intended use of the product. In addition, the product should ordinarily be supplied to the public only by medical prescription and should not be advertised or promoted to the public.

Any application by a supplier to have Melatonin included on the common list will be considered in the usual way. People who experience undue financial hardship in obtaining any particular product should contact the local area office of the Health Service Executive.