The Taoiseach’s playing down a possible prescription charge for medical card holders in next months budget.

Yesterday the Health Minister signalled the Cabinet was considering the charge.

It would be in the range of 50 cent per drug prescribed.

But the Taoiseach says it’s just one option being considered.

“The total cost in relation to all that area is about 1.8 billion” he said.

“We’re talking about and looking at options that would involve total charges totalling 30 million, or something of that order”.

“So, that’s based on the option that was talked about by the Minister for Health yesterday”.

“I think really what we have to do is recognise that – in the situation that we find ourselves – we have to try and deal with rising drug costs, rising drug bills” he added.