Claim that generic drugs could save €30m

PHARMACISTS HAVE said that the exchequer could save up to €30 million if the Government changed legislation to allow them to dispense cheaper generic drugs and medicines.

Under current regulations pharmacists are not allowed to substitute less expensive generic medicines in cases where doctors set out brand-name products on prescriptions.

However, at the annual general meeting of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in Co Meath yesterday pharmacists argued that this system was placing an unnecessary financial burden on patients.

Pharmacists claimed that generic substitution was used in most other European countries to save money for both the State and private patients.

Pharmacists at the conference also criticised aspects of an agreement between the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the pharmaceutical industry which sought to prohibit generic substitution by pharmacists.

Pharmacist Rory O’Donnell from Gweedore, Co Donegal, said that up to €32 million could be saved annually by the State on the most commonly prescribed medicines by introducing generic substitution.

“The IPU made numerous proposals to the HSE and the Department of Health and Children regarding generic substitution as part of a move to reduce the cost of medicines for the State and for private patients. However, these proposals were not acted upon. By amending the legislation, the Minister for Health and Children could pave the way for cheaper medicines for the consumer as well as containing the costs of the community drugs schemes for the State.

“This cost-saving initiative is a more sensible way to proceed than what has been proposed to date by the HSE.

“The HSE decision to slash payment to pharmacists on the community drugs schemes by almost 30 per cent will have a devastating impact on pharmacies across the country and lead to a reduced level of pharmacy service to the public,” said Mr O’Donnell.

The IPU maintained that patients could save up to €17 per month if branded drugs for osteoporosis were replaced by generic products.