Mayo pharmacist urges everyone to sign up for Drug Payments Scheme
By Tom Gillespie
THE roll-out of the free Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Scheme has been a huge success, according to Castlebar pharmacist Ronan Moran.
“It has come on the back of the free contraceptive scheme,” he said, “which caters for those up to the age of 35 years of age. The roll-out is focused on women’s health and it has been very successful.
“If you are prescribed HRT the government are now giving it to you free of charge. To be eligible you need to either have a medical card and if you don’t have a medical card you need to sign up for the Drugs Payments Scheme. Most pharmacies are now on board and we are seeing a lot of positive feedback.
“The one negative side, which is rectifying itself, is that there was initially a medication shortage, but it is stabilising a bit, thank God,” said Ronan.
Ronan, son of Martin and May Moran from the Westport Road, Castlebar, opened Moran’s Pharmacy in Shruffaun House on New Antrim Street at the junction of Newline in Castlebar in October 2021.
He explained: “You will start seeing people going through the menopause very rarely above 35 or late into their 40s. There are a group of ladies, I call them the forgotten generation - where the free contraceptive only covers you to 35. Once you go over 35 and if you haven’t hit the menopause unfortunately you are still paying for your contraceptives.
“I have been on to the Department of Health - I am hoping that the department will move on that.”
Ronan’s parents were originally from Mohill, Co. Leitrim, and his dad came to Castlebar in the 1980s to work with Revenue. They came down with three young girls and Ronan and his brother were born in Castlebar.
Ronan advises people to sign up to the government’s Drug Payments Scheme, stating: “My example would be that you might be fit and well and you get a bad virus or a bad infection. If you are short of breath you might need steroids, if it is bacterial you might need antibiotics. So it is no harm to sign up to it.
“The Drug Payments Scheme will cover you and your partner, and any kids up to 18 years of age. Now it has been expanded so children over 18 and in full-time education are covered. You just need proof from the school or college that they are in full-time education.
“What the scheme does is once the bill goes over €80 the government pay the excess. If you are a family with four kids it is well worth it. You can sign up online on mydps.ie or do it the old fashioned way and just send off the form.
“It is a very worthwhile scheme. Even if you are fit and even if you do not know when you may utilise that scheme, it is definitely worth signing up. That scheme is available to everyone.”
Those who have reached age 70 years, he said, are entitled to avail of the Medical Card Scheme and the GP Visit Card, which are means tested.
Ronan continued: “I have come across people who are not aware, particularly of the Drug Payments Scheme, and I advise them to sign up to it.
“For example if a lady has a baby and she is put on anti-clotting injections we have the facility here in the pharmacy to put them on an emergency drug payment scheme so that way it is done instantly and you have a three month window. The only negative of the emergency one is it only applies to the individual.
“There is another scheme and it is free. It is called the Long Term Illness Scheme. It you get diagnosed with diabetes or Parkinson's and other conditions - there is a lot of long term illnesses - and if you are in any doubt, come in and talk to us.
“People who have a medical card may not be aware if they get a hospital prescription you have a day or two to bring it into the pharmacy and that way you do not have to go to your GP. It is called the Hospital Emergency Scheme and we can give up to a month’s supply on hospital prescription if you have your medical card. The medical card is also valid for dental care.
“If you go travelling within the EU there is a scheme called the EU1 11. It is free and you apply through your local county clinic and if you have the misfortune of becoming ill while abroad you present yourself to a hospital and you are entitled to free health care throughout the EU and Great Britain.
“There is also a cross-border initiative for people awaiting surgery where people can cross the border into the North and they can get surgery, the most common being for cataracts.”
Ronan concluded: "In this game you have to adapt and we have taken on new brands in front of counter. We have an exclusivity agreement with Molloy’s Pharmacies. We have a very popular teething gel - the Benefits Teething Gel, which is natural and contains clove oil, tea tree oil and the clove oil will numb the area when a baby is teething, and we are getting great feedback on that.
"We like to support local and we have a great skin care range from Stef Kilkenny.”
The opening hours at Moran’s Pharmacy are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m to 5.30 p.m.
Moran’s Pharmacy is located at Unit 2, Shruffaun House, Newline, Castlebar, and can be contacted on (094) 9034446.
* Do you have a story to tell about your business? If so, Tom Gillespie would be delighted to hear from you. Get in touch at (087) 9680780 or gillespietom49@gmail.com.