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Minister wants €27 million in savings from generics

The Minister for Health hopes that generic drugs manufacturers who have not yet decided to cut their prices will follow the lead set this week by members of the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA).

The cost of 300 of the most common off-patent drugs have been reduced by 40 per cent, with effect from February 1.

Minister Mary Harney said the move would save taxpayers and consumers considerable amounts of money — well over €90 million for taxpayers and several millions for consumers when they pay for drugs themselves.

IPHA, the representative body for the international research-based pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, has established a special website — www.checkthelist.ie — which lists the price reductions. A lo-call number (1890 876 700) has also been set up.
Brian Murphy, IPHA’s Director of Commercial Affairs, urged patients to check the website as those who have to pay for their medicines could save between €3 and €4 on every €10 they spend.

In addition, the rebate paid by IPHA member companies to the Health Service Executive in respect of drugs supplied under the GMS scheme is to be extended to include all community drugs schemes and increased from 3.53 per cent to 4 per cent.

These reductions in the cost of nearly 300 named, familiar branded medicines is the result of an initiative by the industry to reduce costs for the State by €94 million over the next 12 months.

Speaking in the Dáil recently, MinisterHarney expressed her disappointment that member companies of the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Ireland (APMI) had ‘declined’ to offer any reductions in the price of the generic drugs and medicines that they supply.

“The current agreement with APMI expires on 1 September 2010 and it is my firm intention to obtain savings from APMI of at least an equivalent level to those secured from IPHA. Such an outcome would yield savings of approximately €27 million in a full year,” said the Minister.

Minister Harney again this week reiterated her intention to bring forward legislation to allow for reference pricing/generic drug substitution to be implemented from next year onwards.

“This will put in place a dynamic system for continual price reductions on drugs that are off-patent, so that transparent price cuts will be a recurring feature of drugs costs for consumers and taxpayers.

“Reducing costs in our health services means that we can maintain and enhance services with fewer resources. This is the task for the years ahead, one that is entirely achievable by doing business in more cost-effective ways, not just in health, but in the wider public services and in the economy generally,” she added.

Posted in Health Management on 03 February 2010
Tags: pharmaceuticals