Budget 2013 Health: Prescription charge U-turn ‘shameful’

The doctors’ union that James Reilly was once president of has described as “shameful” his U-turn on prescription charges which he had previously firmly opposed.

Yesterday the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) said the effect of the €1-per-item hike would be “to discourage sick people from accessing medicines”.

The increase means medical card holders who previously paid 50c per item prescribed will now pay €1.50.