John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the rules and guidelines of the drugs payment scheme in view of a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30734/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The position in relation to the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) is that no more than 12 payments should be made by a family or individual in a full year on medication for use in any calendar month. The Health Service Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Service, formerly the GMS (Payments) Board, which is responsible for reimbursing community pharmacists under the DPS, advised all community pharmacists in 1999 on the establishment of the DPS that no more than 12 payments should be made in a year. However, once in a 12 month period or periodically, more than a 28 day supply may be provided, depending on the drugs and medicines, to ensure that no more than 12 payments are made in a year by an individual or a family.