Pharmaceutical body expresses concern over drugs talks

The pharmaceutical industry has expressed concern about negotiating a new deal on drug costs with a caretaker government.

Talks between the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and representatives of the research-based pharmaceutical companies in Ireland are due to commence today.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said he wanted to see savings generated this year of about €125 million on procurement, prescribing and drug costs.

The bulk of these savings would be delivered by means of a new agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA).

There has already been criticism of the delay in the commencement of these talks, given that the first quarter of the year has gone by without any savings being made at all.

The IPHA said it had been ready to begin talks with the Government on a new deal since last July.

However, in a statement, the IPHA said: “We have made it clear already to officials that we see difficulties in substantive negotiations on a new supply agreement being conducted and concluded under a caretaker Government.”

Previous agreement

A previous agreement between the Government and the pharmaceutical industry expired last November.

As part of the new talks the pharmaceutical industry is expected to press the Government for improvements in the speed of access to the State reimbursement system for new products coming on the market in the future.