The cost of drugs - HSE drugs bill hike not sustainable

THE huge increase in the HSE’s drug bill — jumping from €332 million in 1997 to €1.6 billion last year — is staggering and unsustainable.

It is therefore refreshing to hear Professor Brendan Drumm, the HSE chief executive, announce that new drugs will have to be cost effective before they are prescribed.

He also announced yesterday that the HSE is to greatly reduce the amount it pays to drug wholesalers after years paying over the odds for medicines.