Generic medicines ‘would see huge savings for exchequer’

The exchequer could make sizeable savings if more generic medicines were made available in Ireland, members of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) were told at their annual weekend-long conference in Galway.

IPU president Rory O’Donnell cited recent American studies suggesting greater availability of generic drugs could save the US Exchequer $20bn annually. The IPU also wants Ireland to follow other EU countries and increase the availability of non-prescription drugs in pharmacies, to give people quicker access to treatment and to reduce pressure on the health service.

Mr O’Donnell said: “There are huge savings to be made for the exchequer. Ireland should allow for more generic drugs being available on prescription, as they are in many other European countries, when there is strong international evidence to show that these medicines are just as good.”