DES BYRNE,
Madam, - With changes to the Drugs Refund Scheme imminent, I would like to draw attention to the recent history of this scheme.
Up to four years ago anyone who spent more than £32 in any one month on prescription medicines could apply to their health board for a refund. The scheme was primarily to help the chronically ill on long-term medication. These, because of the restrictions of their illness, are often on a low income (or forced into early retirement with a small pension) just above the limit for a medical card.
To qualify for a refund an individual had to incur prescription costs above £96 in a three-month period, thereby eliminating those who incurred such expenses in a one-off or sporadic way, unless the cost was exceptional. All in all, it seemed a very fair scheme.
Some four years ago it was announced that the scheme was being computerised. The good news was that refunds would be a thing of the past as no individual would have to pay out more than the threshold to the pharmacy. In addition, the requirement that an individual had to incur prescription costs above £96 in any three-month period was scrapped. The sting in the tail was that the threshold was increased to £42 per month.
The net effect was that those with sporadic or "one-off" prescription medicine costs were saving up to £64 per episode while the chronically ill on long-term medication were subsidising them by paying an additional £120 per annum. All in all a much less fair scheme.
With the introduction of the euro the threshold converted to €53.33, and shortly afterwards it was increased to €65. It is to be increased to €75 at the next Budget - an increase of 85 per cent over the four years. When this increase is implemented an individual with a sporadic or "one-off" outlay will still be saving €46.89 per episode relative to four years ago, whereas those on long-term medication will be paying an additional €363.12 per annum.
All in all, it now seems a very unfair scheme. Something like Robin Hood in reverse.
God help the many severe asthmathics who struggle to hold down a job and raise a family - the increase will leave them at their wit's end trying to make ends meet and constantly in fear of the consequences of another acute attack. And they are just one group: there are many more. - Yours, etc.,
DES BYRNE, Avalon, Arklow.