Minister Harris cuts prescription charges for over 390,000 people

Minister for Health Simon Harris today announced that 390,000 people over 70 years with a medical card, including their dependents, will benefit from reductions to prescription charges. From tomorrow, Wednesday 1st March, prescription charges will be reduced from €2.50 to €2.00 per item and in addition the maximum monthly limit will be reduced from €25 to €20 per person or family per month. These changes will benefit over 390,000 medical card holders, advancing a key Programme for Government commitment to reduce the cost of medicines for medical card holders.

Commenting on the cuts to prescription charges for eligible older people and their dependents, the Minister said; “I am very pleased to be in a position to announce its immediate effect. Naturally as we grow older, we require more medical help and assistance and from tomorrow, 390,000 of our older friends and family will pay less for their medicines”.