Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1615. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health his views on enabling individuals to purchase six-months of HRT in one calendar month to avail of the drugs payment scheme given that this medication is not being provided for publicly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17499/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Some Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medications are available to medical card holders under the General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme, subject to payment of the statutory prescription charge.
These same HRT medications are also available under the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS). The DPS ensures that no individual or family pays more than €80 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The DPS is not means tested and is available to anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland. The DPS significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
As announced in Budget 2023, the VAT rate for non-oral forms of HRT was reduced to zero from 1 January 2023. This measure has reduced the cost of non-oral forms of HRT for all those who need them.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) is the public body established in law to protect the health, safety and well-being of patients and the public by regulating pharmacists and pharmacies in Ireland. The PSI is an independent body and an agency of the Department of Health.
The PSI sets standards for pharmacists and pharmacies and ensures compliance with the regulatory framework in place governing the practice of pharmacy, and the supply of pharmaceutical care and medicinal products, in accordance with legislation, to patients and the public.
The length or duration of a prescription is at the clinical discretion of the prescriber, but ordinarily a prescription in Ireland is valid for a maximum period of six months. The rationale for this time limit is to ensure that appropriate medical care continues to be afforded to persons in receipt of prescriptions.
It has always been the position that only one month’s supply should be dispensed under the GMS scheme or other community drug schemes, including the DPS. Pharmacies can dispense more than one month supply to private patients in circumstances where no patient safety issues arise and there are no concerns in respect of the continued supply of the product.
