Drug prices set to be slashed as Ireland agrees alliance

The Government has claimed drug prices will be slashed for patients in the coming years as part of a new deal with four other smaller EU nations to jointly negotiate with pharmaceutical firms for life-saving treatments.

Health Minister Simon Harris will announce the plan at Cabinet today, during a meeting which will also see a report warning that a hard Brexit could cost Ireland up to €18bn and news that 1,000 more families are now receiving extra childcare support.

In recent months Mr Harris and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have have sought to forge alliances with other EU nations when it comes to negotiating drug prices. The move was partially in response to the recent row over the cost of the cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi, and other life-saving medications which the HSE has to negotiate with firms to obtain while balancing value for money for the taxpayer and which drugs it can afford.