Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 24: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has an estimate of the cost associated with covering Crohn's disease under the long-term illness scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3975/11]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The medicinal products prescribed for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease are also prescribed for other conditions. When pharmacists submit reimbursement claims to the HSE for medicines dispensed to patients under the GMS and other community drug schemes no information is provided as to which condition or illness a particular medicinal product has been prescribed. As a result the information sought by the Deputy is not collected or compiled by the HSE.

The prices paid by the HSE for medicines dispensed under the Drugs Payment Scheme and the Long Term Illness Scheme are the same. Under the Drugs Payment Scheme no individual or family pays more than €120 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme is easy to use and significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.