Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) who has a medical card is now required to pay the chemist for their B12 injections; the person who receives the €7 per injection charge; if general practitioners are paid to administer such injections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11901/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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There are two licensed intramuscular vitamin B preparations available on the Irish market. Both are reimbursed under the GMS and community drugs schemes. Supply difficulties have been experienced for both of these products. In March 2010 the HSE put in place arrangements to reimburse the costs of both licensed products and equivalent products not licensed for the Irish market. GMS patients should not be charged by their pharmacists for these products.

I would be most concerned if it were to emerge that GMS patients have been charged inappropriately by community pharmacy contractors. If the HSE is made aware of the details of such cases it will arrange to have them investigated as appropriate.

Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold medical cards or GP visit cards with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP.