FIGURES FROM THE Department of Health indicate the government is on track to rake in €120 million in prescription charges.
In the last Budget, the charge was increased from €1.50 to €2.50, though groups representing those on lower incomes and with serious illnesses had asked for the lower €1.50 charge to be reversed.
A Budget 2015 approaches, many of these groups have again asked for the charge to at least be reduced.
“We had actually called in the past for it to be abolished but that’s probably not going to happen so we’re asking that they look at having a flat rate so that you’re not charged for every prescription,” commented Catherine Cox of the Carer’s Association.
“That €2.50 charge really impacts disproportionately on the sick and elderly and people who have ongoing and complex medical needs because they would have to purchase the most medication.”
Cox said that it is not just the people carers are looking after that are affected as many carers are also on medication for stress, depression, anxiety or back problems because of the nature of the work they do.
I know of one situation where a mother caring for her young son who is on the autism spectrum. The mother herself is also on medication and she didn’t get her own because she had to get medication for her son. I’ve definitely seen examples where they haven’t got their own simply because they don’t have the money for both.
Homeless organisation Simon had also asked for a reversal of the charge ahead of the last Budget. A spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that “there can be no more increases in prescription charges and we ask again that these charges be reversed to 2012 levels.”
This is unlikely as the Department’s figures show the charge brought in just less than €30 million in 2012 – a massive drop on the projected revenue this year.
However the spokesperson said these charges “impact on the most vulnerable in our society”. They pointed to a report by an expert group in 2012 which said imposing charges on medical card holders can act as a disincentive to the most vulnerable and elderly people from seeking the medical attention they need”.
CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), Tadhg Daly said his organisation believes it is “extremely unfair” for nursing home residents to have to pay these charges.
“Older persons living in nursing homes already contribute 80% of their income under the Fair Deal scheme towards the cost of their nursing home care,” he explained to TheJournal.ie. “This leaves them with 20% of their income to pay for goods and services expressly not included under Fair Deal.”
This includes therapies, social programmes and personal items. Such costs can include specialised wheelchairs, dressings, activities and outings, dental care, clothing, toiletries, transportation, and hairdressing.
There are a small number of people who are exempt from the charge, including children in the care of the State and patients prescribed methadone under the national treatment scheme.
In response to a recent parliamentary question, Minister of State Kathleen Lynch said it had been necessary to increase the charge “due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €619 million of savings targeted in 2014″. She added that there there are no plans to change the prescription charge.
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