Low consumption of medicines ‘could lead to health problems’

IRELAND’S low-level usage of medicines could store up major health problems in the future, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association.

The newly-appointed president of the IPHA, Conn Clissmann, said Irish consumption of medicines remained low by international standards, despite the ever-increasing sums being invested to improve public health.

“As a nation, Irish consumers spend nearly a third less than the European average on medicines. In fact, we spend more on individual purchases such as hair treatment, cosmetics, petrol, newspapers and bus fares per week than on prescription and other medicines,” Mr Clissmann said.

He blamed a traditional reluctance, especially amongst males, to visit GPs and seek treatment for ailments for the low level of medicine usage in Ireland.

“However, some problems if ignored, like diabetes, can cause very serious side-effects like blindness, if not treated,” he warned. “We could be storing up problems for the future if we are not careful.

“Although expenditure on healthcare has more than trebled in the period 1996-2004, total expenditure on pharmaceuticals as a percentage of total healthcare expenditure remains low,” Mr Clissmann said. “Medicines account for just 11.5% of non-capital health expenditure.”

He claimed concern about the cost of visiting doctors was also a factor - as 70% of the population has to pay to visit their GP.

The IPHA, which represents the major pharmaceutical industries in Ireland, also pointed out that estimates have been made that €75 million could be saved annually if self-medication was more widely practiced.

“These savings could then be put to better use elsewhere in the healthcare system,” Mr Clissmann said.

He said the IPHA would welcome the availability of more medicines to be sold on an over-the-counter basis.

He highlighted how some cholesterol-lowering and stomach ulcer treatments which are currently sold over the counter in Britain are still only available as prescription medicines in Ireland.

“While safety should always be the primary concern, we believe there isn’t a proper system for scrutiny in place.”

Mr Clissmann said the current mechanism for reviewing the potential for medicines to be classified for over-the-counter sales was largely carried out on an “ad hoc basis.”

At its annual conference in Dublin yesterday, the IPHA also outlined its contribution to the economy with Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry now the world’s largest exporter of medicines with annual exports of €13.3 billion.

Around 21,000 people are employed in pharmaceutical companies in the Republic with the Irish market for medicines worth approximately €1.1bn annually.