asked the Minister for Health the amount spent annually on drugs in Ireland and the measures being taken to limit the consumption of drugs and medicine.
Written Answers. - Drugs and Medicine Expenditure.
5.
Since the amount spent privately is not known accurately, it is not possible to give a firm figure for the amount spent annually on drugs and medicines in this country. It is estimated, however, that the total expenditure is of the order of £70 million a year.
A number of steps are being taken to stem the growth of drug costs. The Deputy will no doubt be aware of the campaign launched by the Health Education Bureau urging a more rational approach to drugs and medicines. It emphasises especially that a visit to the doctor need not necessarily mean that drugs are required. This campaign is directed towards the population generally.
There are other, more specialised, approaches such as those directed towards doctors. Under the general medical service scheme participating doctors are provided with drug cost charts showing the comparative cost of a range of drugs in common use.
Another development is the growing practice of instituting committees in hospitals to review drug usage. This is particularly welcome since a doctor's prescribing pattern is first established during his hospital training period. In addition to these measures I shall be giving further consideration during the coming months to the question of drug costs in the health services.