Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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547. To ask the Minister for Health if he will put in place regulations to impose maximum price for emergency contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28325/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

A prescription only emergency contraception product, Levonelle®, is currently included on the List of Reimbursable Items for the GMS and other community drug schemes. This product is therefore available to medical card holders under the GMS Scheme, subject to the prescription charge, once they have a prescription from their GP. Otherwise it is available under the Drug Payment Scheme whereby no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.

Since February 2011, another emergency contraception product, NorLevo® , has been available at pharmacies in Ireland without a prescription. The supply process for this product is essentially a private transaction between the patient and the pharmacy.

In the case of drugs and medicines which are paid for by the HSE, prices are set in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 or the terms of the framework agreements between the Department of Health and the HSE and the representative bodies for pharmaceutical manufacturers in Ireland. However, neither the Minister for Health nor the HSE has any power to set the prices of drugs and medicines purchased by private patients.

The HSE advises the public that if they are being charged prices which exceed the reimbursement price listed on the HSE website (), plus a dispensing fee of between €3.50 and €5, then they should discuss the differential with their pharmacist to ensure they get the best possible price for the medicine concerned.