Irish Pharmaceutical Union conference: Savings of up to €100 million ould be made by the State every year if it changed the way in which it manages the national drugs bill, it was claimed at the weekend.
The Irish Pharmaceutical Union, at its annual general meeting in Dublin, said the savings could be made through greater use of generic drugs, allowing pharmacists prescribe for minor ailments, and ensuring that those given drugs are followed up on compliance and wastage.
The union has submitted its value for money proposals to the Department of Health.
Mr Karl Hilton, the IPU's newly elected president, said he believed a number of the proposals would be taken on board.
"The Government is setting up a Drug Cost Working Group and we believe some of our ideas are being taken on board by it," he said.
He added that the savings would allow medical cards to be given to a further 120,000 people.
In a separate development, a motion calling on the Government to introduce legislation to ensure only pharmacists can own pharmacies was passed.
Delegates also called for a fitness to practice regime to be put in place for pharmacists.
And the outgoing president of the IPU, Mr Richard Collis, urged members to dispense drugs in child-proof containers if the medication was going to a home with young children. It follows an incident in which a toddler ended up critically ill in hospital after swallowing an adults tablets recently. "The child was on death's door for 48 hours but thankfully he pulled through. It highlights the awful risks that are there," he said.