Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she has reviewed the possibility of including certain drugs (details supplied) on the medical card list, in view of the fact that the drugs are not currently available here; if this medication could be made available here; and if progress has been made in this regard. [12415/07]

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 reimbursed, 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. Products are considered for reimbursement on application by a supplier. Tetrazepam is not currently reimbursable through the state schemes. Any application by a supplier to have Tetrazepam 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.