Pharmacists welcome lower medicines prices through generic substitution
Thursday, 17 June 2010 14:15
Pharmacists call for cautious approach on reference pricing and express fears about medicines shortages
The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), the representative body for 1,600 pharmacists, has today welcomed a move by the Minister for Health and Children to allow pharmacists offer patients the choice of a cheaper generic medicine. However, pharmacists called on the Minister to take a cautious approach to the introduction of a system of reference pricing which could lead to medicine shortages. The IPU was responding to the publication of a report from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health and Children on generic substitution and reference pricing for medicines.
“Pharmacists welcome the fact that the Minister for Health and Children is finally allowing pharmacists to offer patients the choice of a cheaper generic medicine. Pharmacists have been calling for this for years. This is standard practice in many other countries and will mean lower medicine prices for patients,” said Darragh O’Loughlin, IPU President.
Responding to the introduction of reference pricing for medicines, Mr O’Loughlin said: “We would ask the Minister to be very cautious in taking steps towards the introduction of reference pricing on medicines. Pharmacists have already suffered a major blow due to cuts imposed by the Minister for Health and Children last year. 1,600 jobs have already been lost and patient services have been curtailed. This must be taken into account as part of any plan to introduce reference pricing.”
“We would also be concerned that reference pricing could lead to medicines shortages. For instance, in the UK, medicines such as Femara, a cancer treatment, and Cipralex, an antidepressant medicine, have been unavailable to patients in recent months. It has reached such critical proportions that the Department of Health in the UK called a major summit meeting of all stakeholders to try and resolve the supply crisis for certain fundamental drugs. This is not a situation we want in Ireland – this would be a bad situation for patients.”
In Greece, Novo Nordisk, the world’s largest producer of insulin, has withdrawn many of its insulin products as a result of the introduction of reference pricing.
The IPU said that it would be examining the report in detail and will then be seeking a meeting with the Minister for Health and Children to discuss the implications of today’s report for patients and pharmacists.
