Sir, – Conor Pope drew attention to the limited action by the National Consumer Agency (NCA) on drug prices (Home News, March 26th). This article concluded the NCA needed to fight for customers more vigorously.
One of the ways the NCA could assist in information dissemination is to pressurise the HSE to insist that all GMS doctors include the Mimms Ireland price of medications on GMS prescriptions.
The vast majority of GPs use one of three or four software packages, all of which could include the Mimms pricing on prescriptions. If the NCA/HSE were serious about patient information they could include this stipulation in the contract. Most vested interests do not want to be too efficient for fear of becoming obsolete. Perhaps the NCA/HSE hierarchy carry the same fear. – Yours, etc,
Dr RICHARD ENNIS,
Whitworth Medical Centre,
St Brigid’s Road Lower,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.