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06/08/2012
Patients And Taxpayers Being Ripped Off By Drug Prices
Commenting on the Sunday Business Post survey showing the high price of generic drugs in this State, Sinn Féin Health spokepserson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said it showed that patients and taxpayers are being ripped off.
He said: "The survey shows that the HSE and patients here are paying up to 12 times more than the NHS for the same generic drugs. Patients and taxpayers are quite simply being ripped off by the pharmaceutical industry and this is facilittated by the Government's agreement with that industry. For the industry to claim that the massive price differential is accounted for by specific packaging required for this State is an insult to people's intelligence.
"I have repeatedly raised with Health Minister James Reilly the need for action to require greater use of generic drugs and to address drug prices overall. This survey shows the situation is even worse than suspected yet the Government has taken little action, apart from the publication of a Bill which has yet to be enacted. It is long past time for the profiteering of the pharmaceutical industry to be confronted once and for all."
(CD/GK)
He said: "The survey shows that the HSE and patients here are paying up to 12 times more than the NHS for the same generic drugs. Patients and taxpayers are quite simply being ripped off by the pharmaceutical industry and this is facilittated by the Government's agreement with that industry. For the industry to claim that the massive price differential is accounted for by specific packaging required for this State is an insult to people's intelligence.
"I have repeatedly raised with Health Minister James Reilly the need for action to require greater use of generic drugs and to address drug prices overall. This survey shows the situation is even worse than suspected yet the Government has taken little action, apart from the publication of a Bill which has yet to be enacted. It is long past time for the profiteering of the pharmaceutical industry to be confronted once and for all."
(CD/GK)
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