State missing out on millions in savings annually by using non-generic medicines

Since 2013, the use of generic medicines and biosimilars — biologic medical products highly similar to other already approved biological medicines — have provided savings of €1.6bn to Ireland. But the MFI believes even more can be saved. File Picture: PA

Ireland is lagging far behind the rest of Europe as regards the use of generic medicines and is therefore failing to save millions of euro each year.

That is according to a new report from Medicines for Ireland (MFI) published yesterday.