Cost and support also factors in medication

THE study of elderly patients at CUH is worrying (Irish Examiner, January 8).

Aside from the obvious importance of prescribing the right medication, being aware of all medications a patient is taking and how they interact, I wonder if the authors were aware of other factors that may affect what drugs are prescribed to elderly patients.

Some drugs are more expensive than others. Our health authorities have been known to discourage use of the more expensive drugs, which may in some cases be more appropriate.