Study: Ireland paying 24 times more for generic drugs than UK

Ireland is paying up to 24 times more than the UK for some generic drugs, and reform is happening at a slow pace.

The Sunday Business Post yesterday published details of a new study comparing Irish and British prices and it found Ireland is paying disproportionately more.

Health experts said UK prices are not even particularly cheap compared to other countries.

Yesterday, Junior Minister for Health Alex White defended the huge costs, pointing to a Bill on drug prices that is going through the Dáil at the moment.

Susan Mitchell, Health Correspondent with the Sunday Business Post, said that Bill was announced in 2010 by the last government, further illustrating the lack of progress that is being made.