Drug prices to fall as State agrees €400m deal

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 cost to the health service of off-patent drugs will be halved from the start of next month under an agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association.

Substantial savings on the cost of medication will also be enjoyed by patients who pay for drugs, under the deal reached with the 50-member group of companies responsible for the research, development, and manufacture of medicines in Ireland.