Written answers
Thursday, 24 October 2024
Department of Health
Medicinal Products
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
368. To ask the Minister for Health the cost of reducing the monthly cost of drugs to €50. [43775/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) provides for the refund of the amount by which expenditure on approved prescribed medicines or medical and surgical appliances exceeds a named threshold in any calendar month. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland.
The DPS threshold was reduced twice in 2022:
- From €114 to €100 per month on 1 January 2022.
- From €100 to €80 per month on 1 March 2022.
The estimated full year cost of reducing the DPS threshold to €50 is €67m. This costing does not take account of demographic changes, changes in eligibility (e.g., loss of medical cards), or how a reduction in the DPS threshold may impact claimant behaviour.
No comments