Sir, – A television advert for mobile phones satirises the idea of paying for breathing. It’s not a joke. Yesterday I paid €94.73 for my monthly asthma inhaler. Every time I make this payment I wonder what happens to those who can’t afford essential medication.
Have any of the State’s financial advisers worked out the cost of economically enforced non-compliance with prescriptions for chronic conditions?
People who can afford to take their required medicines can remain healthy enough to work and pay taxes. Those who can’t afford medication will eventually be out of work , drawing disability benefit or perhaps be admitted to hospital.
The weekly income limit for a medical card for a single person under 66 is €184. The monthly threshold for the drugs subsidy scheme is €144. What happens to the many people who have an income just above the medical card limit, but can’t afford to pay out €144 per month for prescribed medicines? If they stop working they can apply for a medical card.
What kind of crazy economy compels people to stop working in order to obtain essential medicines?
Surely the brains that run the country can design a scheme that helps people to pay for the medicine that will keep them well enough to continue working? The human cost is immeasurable but the books should balance out if we calculate the savings on the reduction in hospital visits and disability benefit, plus the income from PAYE and USC taxes, against the cost of prescriptions. – Yours, etc,
ANNE BYRNE,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.