Prescription fees – a sick tax

November 01, 2010

Medical card holders and the Irish Patients’ association have been up in arms with the introduction of a 50 cent fee for all prescription medicines. Now the poorest and most vulnerable are to be subjected to what is essentially a tax on illness. Expected revenues of €24 million undermines Mary Harney’s assertion that it is intended “to discourage over-prescribing and the over-use of medication”. 

 

Studies by the World Health Organisation and the British Medical Association of countries that have tried co-payment,that is, “sharing” the costs of prescription medicines found that it reduced the use of necessary medication as much as it reduced the use of unnecessary medication. Campaigners are, quite rightly, worried by the experience in Northern Ireland and Wales where this reduction lead to increased hospital and mental health service admissions.  

 Although exemptions are available to those eligible for the Long-term illness scheme, the long-term illness list is archaic and a plethora of chronic illnesses from heart disease to hypothyroidism are not included.  Surely, exemptions should be made available for anyone suffering from a chronic illness like diabetes, asthma and psychiatric disorders. Prescription fees are simply a sick tax.