06/06/2013

New Legislation Obliges Chemists To Offer Generic Drugs

New legislation will see pharmacists made to offer patients the cheapest available version of a drug, in an effort to save millions from the States medical bill.

Patients will be offered a cheaper generic version of a drug evenif a doctor has prescribed a brand name product, according to Irish Medicines Board Chief Executive Dr Pat O'Mahony.

Pharmacy’s will be supplied the first list of substitutable drugs within two months, Dr O’Mahony told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

Currently pharmacists legally must dispense the exact drug prescribed by a doctor, but the new legislation will oblige them to offer a cheaper generic drug.

(MH/CD)


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