Healthcare group claims Govt can save €130m on prescription drugs

A newly formed healthcare group says up to €130m can be saved from the State's medicines bill.

The Healthcare Enterprise Alliance is made up of people who have so far delivered more than €200m in savings over the past two years.

It has written to the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, asking to be part of the Government's drug pricing negotiations process, which is due to begin next month.

HEA President Sandra Gannon says it is important to get prescribers on board.

She said: "I think what we need to ensure is that the need for savings doesn't fall off the agenda and these savings are slightly more difficult, but still can be achieved.

"So far, prescribers haven't been engaged in any way in terms of cost-effective or rational prescribing.

"That's where we think the Government needs to move to next, that is where the significant medi-savings can be made for the future."