Prescription Charges in Ireland from October
October 1, 2010
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Posted by Money Guide
As announced in the Budget 2010, a charge of 50 cents has been introduced on 1st October 2010 in respect of each prescription item dispensed to medical card holders.
The total charge per family per month will be capped at €10 and the HSE will put in place a refund system in order to refund families who exceed the €10 monthly ceiling.
Minister Harney expects the new charges to raise approximately €2 million per month. There has not been too much protest against these charges – which will basically result in poorer , sick people contribuing €2 Million a month to the state from their low incomes .
An “expert group” recently commented that this charge is unlikely to raise enough revenue to justify the costs of administering the charge. The same group also said the move could lead to some patients not taking medicines they needed.
The New Prescription Charges will not apply to :
1. Children in the care of the HSE who have their own medical card. This includes children in residential care, foster care, foster care with relatives and other care placements:
2. The Long Term Illness Scheme;
3. The Drugs Payment Scheme;
4. Persons who receive services under the Health (Amendment) Act 1996;
5. Or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme.
Categories: Budget 2010, Prescription Charges
Surely it’s obvious that the main intent of such a charge is to discourage the cavalier prescription of unnecessary drugs, and that that’s where the real savings will come from? The nuisance charge of 50 cents for what might otherwise be a completely free prescription will make both doctors and patients think a little harder about whether or not a prescription is really required.
(Not dissimilar to the plastic bag charge that was introduced a few years ago — the nuisance effect of the charge was what brought about the change in behaviour, rather than the charge itself.)