A chara, – It was heart-warming to see the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association’s announcement of a reduction in the price of more than 300 recognised branded medications – representing a saving of almost €100 million over a year.
It was especially heartening to read IPHA’s director of commercial affairs, Brian Murphy, state that the association’s members, in recognising the difficult position of the Irish economy and the tough decisions facing the Irish Government, were willing to play their part in helping to reduce costs and prices.
The people of Ireland will be forever grateful that they no longer have to pay over the odds for drugs that are for the most part long past their copyright.
Might I venture that the IPHA could also help the overburdened Irish taxpayer and the cash- strapped HSE and save them several hundred millions of euros by sourcing their medical supplies in Spain, where they only cost a fraction of what they do here. The end of the (unintentional I am sure) gouging of the Irish public and the provision of medicines at prices comparable to our fellow EU citizens will be widely welcomed. When this happens I will be the first to congratulate the IPHA for doing its bit for Ireland. – Is mise,
Madam, – Please allow me express my cynicism at the announcement by the HSE of a 40 per cent cut in prescribed medicines.
I take three tablets daily: Lipitor 20mg, Nebilet 5mg and Asprin 75mg. A month’s supply in the Republic costs €85, in Northern Ireland €55, and in France €45, and none of these drugs are on the list published by the IPHA. At a saving of €40 per month I am better off by €480 per annum. What savings could be achieved for each of us, the taxpayers of Ireland, if our HSE negotiators really tried? – Yours, etc,