Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has called on the Government to confirm long-term funding of blister packs, stating that the announcement of a three-month pause to the charges has brought absolutely no comfort to vulnerable patients.
Teachta Brady said:
“The Minister for Health is completely tone deaf on the issue of charges for blister packs and monitored dosage systems.
“Nowhere in her statement announcing the three-month pause does the Minister say her department will consider funding blister packs or monitored dosage systems moving forward, despite the vital role they play for older people, people with dementia, disabilities and those with complex medication needs.
“The only rationale she offers for the pause is the pressure pharmacists are under due to flu season and vaccinations. While those pressures are real, they do not remove the financial burden being placed on vulnerable patients.
“Patients need action, not spin. The Minister must commit to a funded, fair approach to monitored dosage systems and end the practice of passing these costs onto those who can least afford it.
“For thousands of people in Ireland, blister packs are a lifeline. They are not a luxury. People rely on them every day.
“For many, blister packs are what allow them to live independently and safely in their own homes.
“The government found billions for developers, banks and landlords in the recent budget – but now when it comes to older people, people with dementia, and people with disabilities, the approach suddenly becomes penny-pinching.
“The contrast could not be starker. This is a political choice, not a financial necessity.
“It is not right and it is not fair.
“Vulnerable people need certainty now that this vital funding will continue.”
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