CROSS border drugs
tourism is expected to rise following the hike in
the prescription charge for medical card patients.
People can now buy a whopping eleven packs of
paracetamol (176 tablets) in the North for the cost
of just the prescription charge alone in the south.
Some large British supermarket chains in Derry
charge as little as 19p (0.22c) for a basic pack of
16 paracetamol caplets (500mg) while customers can
get a basic pack of 16 ibruprofen caplets (200mg) in
some outlets for 25p (0.30c).
However, from December 1, medical card patients in
Co Donegal will have to fork out €2.50 just to have
their painkillers dispensed.
Meanwhile, more and more private patients are
travelling Northwards to have their prescriptions
dispensed with huge savings on drugs including
standard heart medications such as
cholesterol-busting pills.
There are tight restrictions on how many packets of
drugs, including paracetamol, that an individual is
allowed to purchase over the counter in Derry with
some supermarkets restricting it to two packs (32
tablets) per visit. By contrast, people getting
paracetamol on repeat prescription here can get a
larger batch for which they will be charged the
single prescription charge.
Nevertheless, the above figures show that 100
paracetamol caplets bought over the counter in the
North will cost a patient about €1.38 compared to
the €2.50 prescription fee to be charged here,
regardless of the number of tablets prescribed.
Donegal T.D., Deputy Charlie McConalogue (FF) said
the hike - up 500 per cent since 2010 - would badly
hit his constituents.
"That’s a five-fold increase in prescription charges
on this Government’s watch despite the fact that
Minister for Health, James Reilly, promised to
abolish the original charge of 0.50 cent when he
took up office," said Deputy McConalogue.
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) said many pharmacists
had contacted the organisation following last week's
Budget relaying "significant" anger and concern
among patients at the hike.
IPU community pharmacy committee chairman, Bernard
Duggan, said:
"People living with heart disease or at risk of the
disease, should be focusing on getting better and
keeping well, not worrying about how they're going
to pay for their next vital prescription. Poor
adherence to treatments, especially in the case of
chronic illness and long-term patients will mean
more hospital stays, more pressure on our already
struggling and depleting health service and more
cost to the exchequer in the treatment of these
patients in the long run," said Mr Duggan. |
