Warning to control costs of medicines

More than €2bn is being spent by the State on medicines each year — it is taking an increasing share of the healthcare budget and we should be insisting on getting better value for money from the drug companies, the head of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics told doctors.

Michael Barry, clinical director of the centre that rates the cost-effectiveness of new drugs, said getting fair prices and real value would make more resources available for services for the elderly, disabled, and those with mental health problems.

Speaking at the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, Prof Barry said that the State was being asked by some drug companies to pay for exceptionally expensive drugs that did not work.