Madam, - I refer to the article entitled "The great foreign drug rush" published in The Irish Times Healthplussupplement on March 11th, 2008. According to the Code of Marketing Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry, "Other companies, their products, services or promotions must not be disparaged either directly or by implication". This article made a number of inaccurate statements which need to be clarified. Coversyl is not a "cholesterol zapper" as mentioned in the article, but is intended for the treatment of hypertension, coronary artery disease or heart failure.
The article inaccurately states that "Coversyl (5mg) is €20.12 for a months supply, (in Spain) compared to €30.55 in the Republic". In fact Coversyl in Ireland is free to patients over 65 years of age and GMS card holders. Where a patient is receiving many medications on a monthly basis, they will qualify for the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) where the price paid is far less than the sum of the individual medications. For private patients, a month's supply of Coversyl costs €30.95 to the patient, which includes the valuable advice which the pharmacist may give.
It is strongly recommended that patients regularly visit their family doctor for medical advice and monitoring, while also visiting their pharmacist for advice on diet, current treatment, potential side-effects and drug-interactions. It is important for successful continuity of care that the pharmacist has a full record of all patients' medications in order to optimise the safe, effective use of treatments prescribed. - Yours, etc,
Dr LOIC DE CHASSEY,
Servier Laboratories,
Block 2,
West Pier Business Campus,
Old Dunleary Road,
Dún Laoghaire.