Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding medications covered and available under the medical card scheme and drugs cost subsidisation scheme; the way a product (details supplied) will be placed on both lists; if this product is or previously was on either list; the reason same was removed; if the manufacturer or distributor has applied to get this product on the lists; if she will make a statement on the matter in view of the fact that elderly persons find it difficult to understand the reason the item is not available. [17456/10]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason medication (details supplied) is not on the approved list for the drugs cost subsidisation scheme; the way this medication can be put on that list; to whom and by whom the case should be put; if such medication is put on the list when statements from the patient's consultant state that the medication on the list is not suited to their patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17458/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 132 together.

Pharmaceutical companies must apply to the Health Service Executive (HSE), for their product(s) to be reimbursed under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme and the community drugs schemes. In order for a medicinal product to be considered by the HSE for reimbursement it must meet specified criteria. These include the following:

The product must be an 'allopathic' medicinal product authorised by the Irish Medicines Board or the European Commission.

The product must be such that it is ordinarily supplied to the public only on foot of a medical prescription.

The product should not be advertised or promoted to the public.

The HSE have advised that there had been a manufacturing difficulty with Cytamen. Alternative arrangements were put in place during this time. The issue has now been resolved. Astonin is a brand name for Fludrocortisone. It is not a licensed product and therefore is not eligible for reimbursement under the GMS or community drugs schemes. An alternative brand of Fludrocortisone is licensed in Ireland and is reimbursable under the GMS and community drugs schemes.