Ireland, in common with many other jurisdictions, has
experienced a significant level of debate regarding generic drugs
and the use of "reference pricing" by state-sponsored
medical services providers and Community Drugs Schemes (CDS).
Government proposals on this topic were recently clarified in the
Health (Pricing and Supply of Medicines) Bill, published on 16 July
2012.
In a year where the HSE has overspent by €280 million,
the Government sees the introduction of this new legislation as a
means of promoting competition between suppliers of interchangeable
medicines and achieving greater reductions in the medicines bill
for the State.
The objective of the Bill is to:
(a) establish a list of groups of interchangeable medicinal
products, which may be substituted for each other;
(b) alter the duties of prescribers and dispensers of medicines to
facilitate the operation of the reference pricing system; and
(c) establish a list of medicines and medical and surgical
appliances that may be supplied to patients under the General
Medical Services Scheme (GMS) and CDS, and create mechanisms for
setting the prices of those reimbursable items.
As the Irish Parliament is in summer recess until 18 September
2012, there will be no legislative progress on the Bill until after
that date. It is next due to go before the Irish Senate for
debate. We expect that the Bill will be subject to
significant lobbying and debate and propose to track and update you
on any significant changes, as the Bill progresses through the
legislative process.
For a more detailed overview of the Bill, please click
here.
The full text of the Bill can also be viewed
here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
