A "paradoxical" situation, that of Ireland, where today many generic drugs are more expensive than the 50% compared to the reference brands. It is the result of a major price cut operation carried out in recent weeks by local pharmaceutical companies, in an attempt to reduce public pharmaceutical spending by around 94 million euros this year, in agreement with the Ministry of Health. The measure involved around 300 of the best-selling products in the country. But according to Michael Barry, clinical director of the National Center for Pharmacoeconomics, interviewed by the Irish Medical Times, "this is a ridiculous and unique situation in Europe. Patients today pay more for a generic and this does not happen in any country in the Union. Once doctors were encouraged to prescribe equivalent medicines for their good cost-benefit profile. Today it is no longer the case for them to do so". Meanwhile, Irish Health Minister Mary Harney makes known her disappointment that some companies have not yet cut the price of their medicines.
Pharmacist33 – 22 February 2010 – Year 6, Number 31
