Charges to medical card scheme saw fall in use of certain medicines

The introduction of prescription charges on the medical card scheme led to a significant fall in people’s use of certain medicines, particularly anti-depressants.

A study funded by the Health Research Board and co-authored by researchers in University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin, tracked how the 50c and €1.50 prescription charges impacted on how patients took their medications.

It studied the database of national pharmacy claims, which holds figures on every prescription filled in by people with medical cards.