Madam, – Dr Garrett Igoe (April 16th) speculates how generic drug prescription might reduce health care costs.
Recent Dutch practise, borrowing from New Zealand experience, is of interest. Patient reimbursement of prescribing costs is confined to the cheapest drug appropriate for the most common ailments. Thirty such drugs are specified. Costs of non-specified drugs are not refunded and the scheme has resulted in annual savings of €750,000 to the Dutch economy. Attempts to introduce this “kiwi model” to Belgium have been opposed by the same vested interests Dr Igoe identifies as likely to operate in Ireland were such a move contemplated here. Not surprisingly Belgians are crossing the border to the Netherlands to buy their drugs. – Yours, etc,