Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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205. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to make the cap for prescription charges more equitable for persons living alone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9087/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Medical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists under the General Medical Services scheme. This charge is subject to a monthly cap of €25 for each person or family.

In Budget 2017, the Government announced a reduction in the charge to €2, subject to a monthly cap of €20, for over 70's. The implementation of this reduced charge, which requires changes to primary legislation, is at an advanced stage.

Any future changes to the prescription charge is a matter which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the Health commitments in the Programme for Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.