30 November 2007
The Council of Ministers has agreed to abolish prescription charges from February 2008. The proposal was put forward by the Minister for Social Security, Senator Paul Routier, and supported by Assistant Minister Deputy Peter Troy.
A continuing annual surplus in the Health Insurance Scheme and a growing Health Insurance Fund means that the whole cost of medicines prescribed by General Practitioners can be met through the Insurance Scheme.
The move will particularly benefit those with chronic conditions and those suffering acute conditions requiring multiple prescriptions. These may not be just those on the lowest incomes, but also, for example, those just outside Income Support, particularly pensioners and families with young children.
The medical and pharmaceutical professions have raised concerns that patients who need large numbers of essential prescriptions sometimes have trouble meeting the cost of prescription charges. Some patients are making a choice not to have particular medicines dispensed on the grounds of cost.
The Social Security Minister, Senator
Paul Routier
, who sponsored this move through the Council of Ministers said: ‘I am very pleased that I am able to launch this initiative which will benefit many people in the
Island
. With the Health Insurance system currently in a very robust and buoyant state due to economic growth and changes in prescription costs, there is an opportunity to provide more financial assistance to those in greatest medical need, particularly those on lower incomes who can access the medicines they need without cost being a barrier.’
Senator Routier also commented: ‘The Health Insurance Fund is a contributory scheme from which all contributors expect to benefit, so there is a strong argument that all should benefit from the scheme’s success regardless of their income and ability to pay.’
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