The HSE has defended Ireland's track record of providing access to new drugs when it responded to a claim by a pharmaceutical industry group that patients waited around a year and a half longer than their European counterparts to get the same medicines.

Ireland has joined an international alliance designed to strengthen its hand in price negotiations with big pharma in an effort to improve Irish patients’ access to new and innovative drugs.

Lessons must be learned from the “dysfunctional” drugs selection process, the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association has said.

Lessons must be learned from the “dysfunctional” drugs selection process, the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association has said.

Lifesaving drugs have been caught up in a funding logjam as the HSE fears the cost involved could adversely affect existing services.

Health Minister Simon Harris has accused anti-vaccine campaigners of “scare-mongering” that risks the health and possibly the lives of children and adults in need of vital medication care.

Health Minister Simon Harris has accused anti-vaccine campaigners of dangerous "scaremongering", writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith of the Irish Examiner.

Major reform is still needed to pass on savings on medicines to taxpayers and patients.

A number of government TDs are backing the idea of a Brexit minister amid concerns Taoiseach Enda Kenny is unable to focus on securing the best deal for Ireland.

A new drug price deal between the State and the pharmaceutical industry will bring medicine costs in Ireland more into line with other European countries, Health Minister Simon Harris said yesterday.

A decision on a multi-billion euro deal between the State and pharmaceutical companies, on price cuts, is imminent.

Pharmacy companies paid out €27.2m in payments to individual healthcare professionals, payments to healthcare organisations and on research and development last year, it has been confirmed.

The Health Service Executive may impose drug price cuts in the absence of a deal with pharmaceutical companies.

More medicines should be made available over-the-counter than by prescription-only and pharmacists should consider publicly displaying dispensing fees and mark-up fees to help patients make informed choices, according to a new report.

There were tears of joy in Rosaleen Rafter’s home when the Health Service Executive confirmed that it will repay the cost of a life-changing drug for people with multiple sclerosis.

The Government must ensure there is enough funding to rebuild the country’s water supply network and will miss its target to cut the national drugs expenditure, the EU said.

A coroner has issued a second warning about prescribing a popular antibiotic to patients already on cholesterol-lowering drugs after details of another death caused by a rare but potentially fatal interaction between them emerged yesterday.

New figures show that three units of Irish-based drug giant UDG Healthcare received payments totalling over €112m from the HSE in 2013.

A medicine shortage caused by excessive drug price cuts imposed by the HSE is having a negative impact on patient care, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

The Government is considering using legislation to force price reductions for medicines in the face of resistance from big pharmaceutical firms.

The state spend on drugs used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction went up instead of down last year, figures show. Major savings were expected in the state spend in the area after Pfizer’s Viagra went off patent in Ireland in June of last year.

The pharmaceutical sector has shed up to one fifth of its staff as the effect of the patent cliff hits the viability of large sales teams.

The Irish arm of pharma giant Novartis last year increased its profits by 31% on the back on strong performance by a number of brands.

Some patients are having to go without vital medicines because of supply shortages, pharmacists have claimed.

A generic drug law now in force could radically change the way pharmaceutical prices are set in Ireland, a report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) states.

The pharmaceutical industry here has claimed wholesale prices for a host of branded drugs are now cheaper in Ireland than in other European countries.

A key feature of the new agreement between the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, the HSE, and Department of Health, announced last week, is the promise of faster access to medicines once they have been proven to be cost-effective.

About 20,000 pensioners are to lose their full medical card and have it replaced with a GP-only card, it has emerged.

A new campaign, called 'Just Ask' was launched today to raise awareness among consumers about the benefits of switching to a generic alternative when buying medication.

A landmark deal has been reached with Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry that will save the State more than €400m on what it pays for medicines over the next three years.

The Health Minister James Reilly is claiming a deal on the cost of drugs that will be worth €400m over the next three years.

The State's drug bill could be slashed by up to €400m in a deal with drug manufacturers.

Hundreds of patients are being denied fast access to vital stroke, multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder and hepatitis C drugs because the HSE is “rationing” money for new treatments.

Ireland’s plan to develop its health innovation hub will see the pharmaceutical sector surpass its record €55bn annual exports, according to John Perry, the minister for small business.

Aspirin is the most commonly prescribed drug under the general medical card scheme (GMS), with 2.5 million scripts written each year at a cost of €5.1m.

WARNINGS of a €50 annual medical card fee and an increase in prescription charges for medical card holders failed to materialise, but the charges for getting medication will remain.

YOU can’t have failed to notice it.

PHARMACISTS will be allowed to substitute cheaper, generic drugs for prescribed branded medicines under laws to be introduced next year.

A REDUCTION in the price of branded medicines should be extended to animal health products, the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association declared yesterday.

The prices of hundreds of common medicines including antibiotics and hypertension pills will be 40% cheaper from today.

THE cost of some of the most commonly-prescribed medicines has been slashed by 40% from today.

THE Department of Health is examining the possibility of enforcing a “generic pricing system” in an attempt to reduce the cost of vital pharmaceutical drugs to the public.