Reform of Drugs Payments Scheme needed to ensure equal access for all – McCarthy

A lower rate of qualification for single-person households should be introduced to the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), a Fine Gael General Election candidate has said.

Councillor Úna McCarthy, who is contesting the General Election for Fine Gael in Cork South Central, said that it is unfair for single people or those who are widowed to be forced to spend the same amount as couples and families in order to qualify for the scheme.

“DPS is a really valuable aid that helps with high medical expenses. The scheme applies to anyone who does not have a medical card and it has helped so many who are under pressure to pay for medicines.

“Under the current scheme no household has to pay more than €80 per month for prescribed drugs. A household can be classified as a single person, married couple, or family with children.

“This means that single people must spend the same amount as families that may have multiple people requiring medication monthly.

“For many single people, they are spending substantial amounts of money on their own medication each month but still fall just short of the threshold for the scheme as they are the only person in their household.

“Widows and widowers who may have previously reached the qualifying amount before losing their partner, may have to front a higher individual cost now that their partner has passed away and they can no longer share the monthly cost.

“We need a reform of this system.

“A new tiered system could be introduced so that single and widowed people have a lower threshold to reach to be able to avail of this scheme.

“While the current system is simple, it is entirely unfair on those not in a long-term relationship or with children. We need to ensure that no one is forced to pay above what others pay for medicines.

“I’m calling on the Minister for Health to look at reforming this scheme so that single people can qualify at a lower threshold than couples and families”, concluded Councillor McCarthy.