Health Act, 1970

Drugs, medicines and appliances.

59.—(1) A health board shall make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances to persons with full eligibility.

(2) When a person with limited eligibility, or a person with full eligibility who does not avail himself of the service under subsection (1), satisfies the chief effective officer of the health board that, in respect of a period and to an amount determined by regulations made by the Minister, he has incurred expenditure on drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances which were obtained on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner and were for the treatment of that person or his dependants, the health board shall make arrangements to meet the balance of the cost, or a proportion thereof (as may be prescribed) of the person's being supplied in respect of that period with such drugs, medicines and medical and surgical appliances.

(3) A health board may make arrangements for the supply without charge of drugs, medicines or medical and surgical appliances to persons suffering from a prescribed disease or disability of a permanent or long-term nature.

(4) Regulations relating to the service under this section shall be made with the consent of the Minister for Finance.