Sir, – In light of recent reports about the differential in price paid by the HSE and that paid by the NHS in the UK for generic drugs, I would suggest a radical solution to this problem.
Would the Minister for Health not simply go to London? Ask the Secretary of State for Health there to buy the drugs on our behalf, and offer him a 10 per cent mark-up for his trouble. At one fell swoop we could reduce our State drugs bill, get rid of the Irish Medicines Board (as an unnecessary quango), and advance Anglo-Irish co-operation. Perhaps this this is too radical a change? – Yours, etc,