Medical user review by pharmacists ‘would help cut drugs bill’

Pharmacists should be paid by the State to conduct medical user reviews as part of a wider programme of reforms to cut the country’s drug bill, a healthcare conference heard yesterday.

Pharmacists have been found to be three times more likely to recommend generics than doctors.

A similar scheme in Britain found the reviews resulted in major improvements in patient compliance, less medicine wastage and better patient outcomes.

Sandra Gannon, general manager of Teva Pharmaceutical Ireland, said the move would be in line with the minister for health’s plan to allow money to follow the patient.

She said the scheme would improve compliance and deliver better outcomes in the most economical setting within the health service.

“Such a scheme has been provided by the National Health Service in the UK for many years, with great success, particularly in chronic diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” said Ms Gannon.

A survey of 1,000 consumers in Ireland published in November found that 67% were already using generic medicines last year, up 35% on 2009 findings.

The vast majority (94%) believe the State should increase its usage of generic medicines to cut costs.

Ms Gannon said legislation currently before the Oireachtas would help bring Ireland more into line with other countries, but a sustained reduction in the costs of our annual drugs bill would involve a wider programme of reforms.