Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health the protocol that applies to the issuance of repeat prescriptions for persons on medical cards; if prescriptions are normally issued weekly, monthly, bimonthly or for longer periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46916/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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A repeat prescription facility was introduced to the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme in March 1991. Under this facility, prescriptions for certain drugs and medicines may be renewed on a three monthly, rather than a monthly, basis. Patients who are stabilized on their medication do not need to visit their General Practitioner (GP) every month in order to have their prescriptions renewed. The facility to change prescriptions from monthly to quarterly for suitable patients provides efficiencies for GPs and patients, by reducing unnecessary consultations and journeys to the surgery and pharmacy.