asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the action he proposes to take following the GMS report on the increasing cost of medicines in 1984.

22.

asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken since he received communications from J. A. Long, Administrator, GMS, indicating the saving which could be made if the lowest priced generics in a range of tranquilisers and antibiotics were prescribed.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 22 together. I am aware that considerable reductions could be made in the cost of the drugs supplied to medical card patients without any reduction in the standard of patient care. In particular, the prescribing of generic drugs and the limiting of the number and quantity of drugs prescribed to what is strictly necessary would produce very substantial savings.

The introduction of a new contract for doctors in the general medical service which would encourage economies in the drugs bill by promoting a style of general practice which is less dependent on the prescribing of drugs has been under negotiation between my Department and the Irish Medical Organisation for some time. The views of the General Medical Services (Payments) Board have been fully reflected in my Department's position during these negotiations. In the interim I have supported fully the efforts of the payments board to encourage more economical supply of drugs, in particular the supply of low cost generic drugs.

As it is now 3.30 p.m. I must move to Priority Questions.

I wish to raise the subject matter of Question No. 10 on the Adjournment but I thought that in order to seek permission to do so I would first have to ask a supplementary question.

That is not necessary. The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.