Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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552. To ask the Minister for Health the current cost of the drugs payment scheme; if costings will be made available for the effect of reducing the current maximum payment threshold from €144 per month to €72 per month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26488/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the HSE that the gross cost of the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) was approximately €68 million in the 12 months to end May 2016. The estimated cost of reducing the monthly threshold to €72 per month is €40 million.

The Deputy should note that estimates surrounding the DPS are approximate at best, as pharmacies do not routinely submit DPS claim data below the current monthly threshold of €144.