HSE pays up to 27 times more than NHS for generic medicines

The HSE pays up to 27 times as much as Britain's National Health Service for some generic medicines.

The higher costs here are despite the HSE's introduction of a reference price for 20 of the most commonly used generic and off-patent medicines.

The Sunday Business Post reports that drugs including those to treat dementia, cancer, asthma, psychiatric conditions and high cholesterol are all far more expensive here than in the UK.

Last year legislation was introduced to allow pharmacists to supply generic substitutes of some of the most commonly prescribed medicines and reference pricing for authorised medicines began.