Reilly opposes 50c prescription charge
A SINGLE day in hospital more than wipes out the cost of drug treatment for an entire year for the vast majority of people, North Dublin Deputy and Fine Gael Health Spokesman James Reilly told the Dáil.
Opposing a new Bill which imposes a charge of 50c per prescription for medical card holders, he said the proposed € 25 million might be savings in theory but, as has so often happened previously, they might transpire not to be savings at all.
'I remind the House that this is the same Department of Finance that got all its predictions wrong on both our way up and our way down,' he said.
'It is the very Department that led us blindfold into the current mess, no doubt encouraged by the Government. The cost of our economic mess should not be laid on the people who are least able to bear it.'
The minister, he said, spoke about off-patent price cuts and the reduction in mark-ups, saying significant progress had been made in recent years.
It was only in the last year that any improvement has been made with the main manufacturers of the drugs they produced offpatent.
'Why is it the case that a cholesterol-lowering drug in this country was costing € 28 per month for the brand leader and € 27 per month for the generic product while a mere 45 miles up the road in Newry it could be bought for £1.40, or € 2,' he asked. 'That is one-fifteenth of the price. Clearly, there are huge savings to be made in that area and that is where our focus should be'
This 50 cent charge might not appear to be much to the minister but it was for many low income families. International research showed that any disincentive for people to take medicines should be avoided, as certain patients will inevitably end up in hospital.
'The nearest jurisdiction to Ireland, Northern Ireland, has abolished prescription charges,' he said. 'We are going in the opposite direction. Wales has also abolished these charges.
The Bill passed all stages by 78 votes to 67.
