State could save €200m each year by switching to generic medicines suppliers say

Medicines for Ireland said an extra 6,000 nurses could be employed from the savings

The increased use of generic medicines has delivered €1.6 billion in savings to the Irish health system since 2013.  Picture: Pexels

The Government could save up to €1bn if the health service switched to generic medicines according to a new report from the Irish pharmaceutical trade association.

Medicines for Ireland (MFI), the supplier of the majority of medicines in Ireland launched ‘Reductions in the Cost of Medicines’ report today which states that €200 million of saving could be made per annum that could be redirected towards additional HSE resources, paying for 6,000 additional nurses or 3,500 extra nursing home beds.