Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health if any assessment has been carried out of the impact on the numbers of items dispensed to medical card holders of the fifty cent charge and particularly if the €10 annual cap negates the purpose of the charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53123/12]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Medical card holders are required to pay a 50c charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €10 per month (not per annum) for each person or family. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the thadone Treatment Scheme. Prescription charges result in savings to the Health Service Executive of approximately €27 million annually.

The part of the question relating to the assessment of the impact of the 50c charge on the numbers of items dispensed has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.