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Irish drug prices 'now matching European average' - drugs firms

Market research commissioned by pharmaceuticals firms suggests its members’ medicines match an average European price.

A GROUP OF pharmaceutical manufacturers based in Ireland has claimed that the price of drugs in Ireland is roughly equal to an average of other EU countries.

The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IHPA) says market research carried out by an independent firm clashes with other claims that Irish customers pay significantly more for patented medicines than their counterparts elsewhere in Europe.

The study claims that when the prices of 200 drugs – which account for 99 per cent of the on-patent segment of the pharmaceuticals market – were compared in nine European countries, Irish prices were roughly equivalent to the average.

Crucially, however, the study examined the ‘ex-factory’ price of the drugs paid by commercial pharmacies, and not the price paid by everyday customers at a pharmacy.

The study effectively points the finger for high street pharmacists, believing it is only through their mark-up that Irish customers are asked to pay more than other Europeans.

IHPA said the study was evidence that the new agreement between the government and pharmaceutical companies was working, and delivering the savings promised.

The agreement, signed last October, was due to save €400 million in three years.

The study also investigated the price of generic drugs – which can be manufactured by any drugs company, as the patent held by the original company has lapsed – and concluded that these were “significantly more expensive” in Ireland than in any other country.

IHPA said this showed there was still savings to be forced on the part of the government, which covers the costs of medicines for medical card holders.

“By definition, copy medicines should be much cheaper as indeed they are in other countries. However this study confirms that in Ireland, they are 50% above the average of the prices in the nine countries,” Brennan said.

“Given the fact that the study has shown that the price of generics is out of line, there is potential for the State to recoup annualised savings of between €50 and €70 million and so ensure that the future funding of, and access to, innovative products for Irish patients is possible.”

Read: Anticipated HSE savings of €362m in drug payments, agency staff ‘did not materialise’

More: Irish people warming up to generic medicines

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32 Comments
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    Mute Andrew Gilmour
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:49 AM

    There are 27 countries in the EU they have only chosen 9 and haven’t stated which ones. This type of article is infuriating and really is not a true reflection of what is happening. I have to take an aspirin a day. In republic of Ireland I need a prescription which is 55 euro then with that prescription it’s 27 euro for 3 months supply. I can drive 40 mins over the border and get 3 months supply without prescription for 6 pounds sterling. There are obviously too many vested interests in Ireland for this to change any time soon.

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    Mute Matt
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    Jun 20th 2013, 10:18 AM

    You need a prescription for aspirin?

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    Mute Stephanie Mccorkell
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    Jun 27th 2013, 10:32 PM

    If you are paying £6 for 3 months supply of aspirin then you are also paying over the odds in N.ireland.
    I buy my supply in Asda . 75 mg gastro Aspirin are average £0.85p per packet.

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    Mute Patitas
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:04 AM

    Next step : reduce the cost of the HSE to the european average and increase the quality of the service they provide to the european average…

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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    Jun 20th 2013, 11:02 AM

    Why are we trusting the people were buying the drugs off to tell us that theyre cheap enough??

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Jun 20th 2013, 6:53 AM

    Another vested interest crowd that has it all sewn up. A real government would open up its own chain of pharmacies.

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Jun 20th 2013, 8:18 AM

    Because the govt is so great at running the rest of the health system?

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    Mute Patrick McEneaney
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:28 AM

    Prices in the north must be alot cheaper than the european average so because their definately alot cheaper than down here.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Jun 20th 2013, 8:41 AM

    My Dad went to Enniskillen yesterday he got his months supply of meds for the equivalent of €8.50.The same meds in a pharmacy in Athlone €59 even with the cost of petrol taken out he saved €24.

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:05 AM

    Lies, damned lies and statistics!

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    Mute Steve Hardy
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:02 AM

    I’m in the states at the moment, generic drugs are incredibly cheap here, 1,000 ibuprofen for $12. Not sure about prescription drugs though.

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    Mute Gmurpi
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    Jun 20th 2013, 8:56 AM

    What a load of crap! I’ve just returned from Spain where I purchased tablets for a family friend for €21 against €68 in Ireland! Same brand same quantity, there needs to be a major inquiry into the whole supply chain now,including the manufacturers , the distributor and most definitely the chemists who have clearly made a fortune over the past couple of Years.
    Is it any wonder that international chemist chains paid out massive sums to acquire irish chemists! Gold mines!

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    Mute Deirdre
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    Jun 20th 2013, 9:13 AM

    Same experience here – Ventolin is approx €30 in Ireland, bought over the counter for just over €3 in Spain. Same with migraine meds – €36 in Ireland, €12 over the counter in Spain. Not sure where this study was done but definitely doesn’t reflect reality.

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    Mute Colin B
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    Jun 20th 2013, 9:31 AM

    Deirdre – they point out that these prices are the costs paid by wholesalers/ pharmacy groups – not the price charged to the consumer. Rightly or wrong its not measuring what you think its measuring. Doing the same research on the actual prices charged to customers would be much more enlightening.

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    Mute Gmurpi
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    Jun 20th 2013, 9:49 AM

    Spot on Colin

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    Mute RossMcEntegart
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    Jun 20th 2013, 2:17 PM

    I am so confident that this is a lie that I make the following offer: if you can show me a genuine receipt from an Irish pharmacy that shows that you were charged €30 for a plain ordinary Ventolin Evohaler, I will give you €50.

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    Mute Ross Quinn McEntegart
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    Jun 21st 2013, 10:12 PM

    No sign of Deirdre coming through with that receipt!

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    Mute Colin B
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    Jun 20th 2013, 8:03 AM

    In fairness if they can produce the data and are happy for other less partial groups to verify their results then fair enough. Just arbitrarily calling them liars isn’t particularly helpful. The cost of generics in Ireland is a massive issue though. I almost don’t begrudge Pharma companies the high costs of new medications while on patent. If new drugs are not profitable then they won’t invest in new meds and we all lose out. But once patent expires then drug costs should drop massively. They do in other countries – they don’t here. That needs to be addressed. If the state weren’t having to spend so much on generics they would have budget to buy the cutting edge treatments at a fair price.

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    Mute Cian O'Callaghan
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:35 AM

    The Esri have a report on drugs prices coming out next week. It will be interesting to see what that report says. Progress has been made on reducing this very significant cost in our healthcare system. But we should be aiming to make more savings in this area – including looking at prescribing practices as well as further reductions in unit pharma costs. This is a much better option than making cuts to frontline services

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    Mute Gmurpi
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    Jun 20th 2013, 8:57 AM

    What progress?

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    Mute BadDrivingIreland
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:46 AM

    That’s why they are still cheaper in North and especially Spain. Hmm.

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    Mute Peter Carney
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    Jun 20th 2013, 8:53 AM

    It includes Spain and the UK.

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    Mute greg skerries
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    Jun 20th 2013, 9:07 AM

    Just back from Spain blood pressure pills €11 for 30 and in Spain the identical pill is €3 for 28. This is typical drug company spin.

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    Mute Jedd Comiskey
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    Jun 20th 2013, 7:11 AM

    *IPHA

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    Mute Del Kelly
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    Jun 20th 2013, 9:58 AM

    And the price of weed in Ireland is ridiculous !!

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    Mute Mac Dara Powell
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    Jun 20th 2013, 9:35 AM

    i use a seretide inhaler 40 euro in spain 120 euro here someone is making a huge profit but as usual the irish people are being screwed.

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    Mute Aoife Carey
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    Jun 20th 2013, 10:59 AM

    I am asmatic and on two inhalers. One is ventolin which is less than half the price in spain. The other one is alvesco which unfortunately wasnt available in spain last time i tried to get it there. As thats the more expensive one thats the one i would like to be able to buy abroad and save money on.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Jun 20th 2013, 11:34 AM

    Depending on your location NI could be an option, they do accept southern prescriptions.

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    Mute Melissa Thornton
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    Jun 20th 2013, 2:27 PM

    Spain is up the creek in debt! The uk’s nhs is f”@&ed!! Ventolin is €8.08 here by the way. Generics are available but people will not change from main lines where available!! Its €1.50 an item on the med card- a lot more in the uk and they have to pay in spain, unemployed or not! Lets all start looking at the bigger picture people!!

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    Mute BadDrivingIreland
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    Jun 20th 2013, 9:06 PM

    A pharmacy buys a ventolin or generic for less than 3 euro, go figure.

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    Mute Daniel Dunne
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    Jun 20th 2013, 1:49 PM

    Thankfully I don’t need meds and long may that continue, but gosh those prices are horrific.

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    Mute Melissa Thornton
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    Jun 21st 2013, 7:37 AM

    Pharmacies have to be profitable to run!! When did profit become such a dirty word!! How much profit do clothes shops make, how much profit mark up and margin do doctors, dentists, chorpodists, food shops, bus companies, etc make!! If there was no profit then there are no pharmacies. But do shop around- every pharmacy has a dispensing fee on private prescriptions and that can vary from €2 to €7 per item which is crazy, and can make a big difference to the patient, ring around your local pharmacies before you even leave home, for prices and ask if they have generics available. At the end of the year get a med 1 form from your pharmacy and ask for a print out and claim back the tax on your medicine. Anyone who pays for medicines is entitled to this. Hope this helps.

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