New system follows rise in cost of drugs

Gary Culliton reports on the passing of the new Health Bill and the remaining concerns of neurologists regarding the switching of anti-epileptic drugs. The commencement of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 will allow for the introduction of a system of generic medicine substitution and reference pricing, the Government has pledged. The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) will now commence a review of an initial 20 active substances, which equates to approximately 1,500 individual medicines.  From the end of the year onwards, hundreds of thousands of prescriptions will be subject to generic substitution, “which will offer choice…