Generics make up less than one in five drugs dispensed in Ireland

Only 18% of drugs dispensed in Ireland are generic brands, the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) has revealed.

The IPU said that the cost of medicine can be high here because Ireland is a small country and cannot buy in bulk to the same extent as others.

It is holding its annual conference in Co Kildare today to discuss issues including regulation and the poor economic climate.

President of the IPU, Rory O'Donnell, said that the cheaper, generic drug market is an immature one here, but will increase in time.

"The amount of generics that are being dispensed in Ireland is very, very low," he said.

"First of all, the penetration rate, the amount of generics that are being dispensed in Ireland is only about 18% of the overall pie, compared to what is about 80% in the UK."