The Health Service Executive (HSE) has collected just under €105 million from the medical card prescription charge since it was introduced almost three years ago until the end of June this year, figures obtained by this newspaper reveal.
Following last year’s budget decision to increase the 50 cent charge to €1.50 per item dispensed, the HSE has seen a large increase in its income from the controversial charge.
Charge trebled
The HSE made a total of €40,855,357 in prescription fee income in the first six months of 2013, following its trebling of the charge.
This compares to the €24.66 million the HSE collected in the first 12 months of the scheme.
Broken down by county, Dublin pharmacies have collected the most in prescription charge fees to date at €24.75 million, followed by Cork at €12.3 million, Galway at €5.4 million, and Limerick at €5.13 million.
The county that has collected the lowest amount to date is Fermanagh at €1,158.
The prescription charge is capped at €19.50 a month per family, though it was originally capped at €10 when it was first introduced in October 2010.
Charge exemptions
While there are currently over 1.87 million full medical cardholders in the State, the charge does not apply to children in the care of the HSE who have their own medical card; those on the Long Term Illness Scheme; persons who receive services under the Health (Amendment) Act 1996; patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme; or items dispensed under the Drugs Payment Scheme.
The prescription charge has been widely criticised by a number of patient groups and the Irish Pharmacy Union and Irish Medical Organisation. But some have pointed out that it makes patients think more carefully about their medications and helps contribute to the HSE's drugs budget, which costs almost €2 billion annually.
Minister for Health James Reilly denounced the prescription charge when he in opposition and promised to abolish it upon coming into Government but has not done so.