Double hit for patients on medication

EFFORTS to tackle the state’s spiralling drugs bill will see patients on medication facing a double hit.

Prescription charges for medical card holders will be introduced. But elsewhere, non-medical card holders face a rise in monthly costs under the drug payment scheme.

Introducing prescription charges of 50 cent per item to the 1.4 million people with medical cards is expected to save €15 million next year, when started in April. The financial burden will be softened by a monthly ceiling cost of €10 per family.