The cost of more than 800 pharmaceutical drugs are to be cut by 20 per cent today.
The most commonly used products in the Medical Card and Community Drug Schemes are being reduced under a new agreement between the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association and the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Ireland.
An additional decrease of 15 per cent will take effect from January 1st, 2009. The Health Service Executive is expected to save €80 million a year once all agreements are fully implemented.
For example, a 28 packet of Nu-Seals Aspirin 75mg Tabs which has been priced at €2.24 will today cost €1.79 and from 2009 will be priced at €1.52.
The price of pravastatin, which is used to lower levels of cholesterol and other fats in the blood, will be cut from €54.29 to €43.43 and will eventually cost €36.92.
"The ambitious agreements will deliver significant value for money for the organisation once they are all fully implemented, while at the same time maintaining the excellent level of service provided by the HSE, pharmacists and GPs to our patients and clients," said an HSE spokesman.
PA