A controversial scheme aimed at encouraging family doctors to prescribe more cost-effectively has generated more than €90 million for investment in practices around the country, new Department of Health figures show.
Under the Indicative Drug Target Saving Scheme, GPs who make savings on their annual budget for drugs and medication for medical-card patients can use the savings for capital investment in their practices.
New Department of Health figures drawn up last week show that the scheme has generated €90 million for investment over the 10 years since its introduction.
However, the scheme has been criticised in the past on the grounds that it provides financial incentives for doctors to prescribe generic medication for medical-card patients when there is no such encouragement for GPs to prescribe in this manner for private patients.
The pharmaceutical industry has also strongly criticised the scheme in the past.
The Department of Health figures show that nearly €19 million generated under the drug-saving scheme has been invested in Dublin.
However, in Co Offaly only €592,000 has been generated under the scheme for capital investment in general practice.
Over €9.5 million has been generated for capital investment in both Cork and Donegal.
GPs in Waterford and Galway generated savings of more than €4 million, which was invested in their practices.
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