Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Independent)
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569. To ask the Minister for Health in relation to the decision announced in budget 2014 to increase the prescription charge by €1 to €2.50, if he considered any study on the effects of such a charge on the behaviour of persons taking medication in accordance with their doctor’s instructions; if he will provide details if those studies' standard academic citations will suffice; the actions, he considers necessary to counteract any deterrent effect of such prescription charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44622/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I am aware that the ESRI, in its report Pharmaceutical Prices, Prescribing Practices and Usage of Generics in a Comparative Context, referred to negative effects of co-payments on access to healthcare. However, as was announced in Budget 2014, it has become necessary to increase the prescription charge due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €666 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.

Medical card holders will be required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. These new rates will be effective from 1 December 2013.

Compliance with medication is a matter for the patient in conjunction with their medical practitioner. Pharmacists also have a vital role to play in relation to the management of individual patients and/or medicines.