The Department of Health is to introduce cost-cutting measures which will increase the amount of money patients on the Drug Payment Scheme have to spend.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has increased the monthly threshold for families or individuals on prescribed medicines currently to €65 from €53.33.
The State funds the cost of medicines for patients on the scheme above these thresholds. The Department of Health move follows an increase in the cost of the scheme to €177.6 million in 2001, a rise of over 70 per cent since its inception.
The scheme is available for patients who are not eligible for medical cards. About 1.15 million people avail of the scheme.
A spokesperson for the department said no figure was available for the saving that would follow the changes.
The Department also confirmed it would increase the cost of being treated at accident and emergency departments from €31.70 to €40.
All persons attending an A&E unit without a referral note from their GP will face this new charge for their first visit.
The Minister added that as well as providing hospitals with a source of income, the charge is important as an incentive towards the appropriate use of accident and emergency departments.