Prescription Charges and Drug Schemes

Prescription Costs in Ireland

Ireland has a multi-tier system for prescription medicines. Depending on your eligibility and which scheme you qualify for, the cost of medicines can range from free to full price. Updated for 2026 HSE.

Medical Card Prescription Charges

If you have a Medical Card, prescription medicines are available at a reduced rate:

• €2 per item — but only for items that have a charges exemption status.
• Monthly cap: No more than €20 per month per family.
• Some medicines (e.g., certain long-term illness drugs) are completely free.

Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS)

The Drugs Payment Scheme caps the amount any individual or family pays for approved prescription medicines in a calendar month.

• Monthly cap (2026): €80 per month per family.
• Once you and your family spend €80 on approved prescription medicines in a month, the rest are free for that month.
• You must apply for the DPS — it is not automatic.
• The scheme covers all prescribed medicines approved by the HSE.

To apply, complete the DPS application form available at hse.ie or at your local pharmacy. You need your PPS number and the PPS numbers of your dependants.

Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme

The Long Term Illness Scheme provides free medicines and treatment for people with certain conditions, regardless of income. The conditions covered are:

• Acute leukaemia
• Diabetes mellitus (Type 1 and Type 2)
• Epilepsy
• Intellectual disability
• Mental illness (including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Parkinson's disease
• Phenylketonuria
• Spina bifida
• Cerebral palsy
• Cystic fibrosis
• Haemophilia and other coagulation disorders
• Hydrocephalus
• Hypothyroidism (under-16s only)
• Tuberculosis

Apply through your GP or hospital consultant. Once approved, you get a Long Term Illness Card entitling you to free medicines for your condition.

GP Visit Card and Prescriptions

A GP Visit Card does not cover prescription medicines. You will need to pay the full retail price unless you are also covered by the Drugs Payment Scheme or Long Term Illness Scheme.

Tips to Save on Prescriptions

• Apply for the DPS — if you spend more than €80/month on prescriptions, this scheme will save you money.
• Check if your condition qualifies for the LTI Scheme — many common conditions qualify.
• Ask your GP about generic alternatives — generic medicines are significantly cheaper than brand-name equivalents.
• Compare pharmacy prices — some independent pharmacies charge less than chain pharmacies.
• Use a prescription price comparison website — the HSE does not regulate retail prices, so shop around.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are an EU/EEA citizen visiting Ireland, your EHIC entitles you to medically necessary prescription medicines at the same cost as a public patient (which may involve some charges).

How the Schemes Work Together

The three main schemes — Medical Card, Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS), and Long Term Illness (LTI) — cover different populations, and understanding the boundaries prevents overpaying:

• Medical Card holders: pay a €2 charge per item (some items are free), capped at €20 per family per month. No DPS needed.
• Everyone else (including GP Visit Card holders): pay the full retail price until the family hits €80 in a calendar month; above that, the DPS covers the rest. You must register for the DPS — it is not automatic — and the cap applies per family unit, so register everyone in the household on one card.
• LTI Scheme: if you have one of the 16 listed conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, MS, Parkinson's, cystic fibrosis, etc.), medicines for that condition are free regardless of income — but medicines for unrelated conditions still fall under DPS rules.

A common trap: using two different pharmacies in the same month and paying over €80 in total without realising the DPS would have covered the excess. If this happens, you can claim a refund — keep all receipts.

Action Steps to Cut Your Medicine Costs

1. Register for the DPS today if you don't have it. Form available at hse.ie or any pharmacy; you need your PPS number and those of your dependants. It costs nothing and applies automatically once registered.
2. Use one pharmacy for all prescriptions. Pharmacies track your DPS spend in a month — splitting prescriptions across pharmacies makes it harder to hit the cap and easier to miss refunds.
3. Ask your GP about the LTI Scheme. Many patients with chronic conditions are never told their medicines could be free. If your condition is on the list, the application goes through your GP or consultant.
4. Ask for generics. Generic medicines are typically 30–80% cheaper than brands and are clinically equivalent; Irish pharmacists can substitute unless your GP writes "dispense as written".
5. Compare pharmacy prices. Retail prices are not regulated — independent pharmacies often undercut chains, and some offer loyalty discounts.
6. Check HRT coverage: free HRT is available through the DPS — ask your pharmacist how to access it.

Medical disclaimer: this guide is for general information only. Never stop or change prescribed medication without speaking to your GP or pharmacist.