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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 1983

Vol. 341 No. 5

Written Answers . - Cost of Drugs .

232.

asked the Minister for Health the arrangements he has made or plans to make to control the retail price of drugs to private patients who can claim repayments under the drugs refund scheme.

233.

asked the Minister for Health if the recently announced arrangement made with the drug companies to keep the cost of drugs to 7 per cent above British wholesale prices, applies to drugs sold to private pharmacists for resale to private patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 233 together.

The control of the price of drugs is the statutory responsibility of the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism. However, the agreement recently concluded between my Department and the drugs industry concerning the cost of drugs supplied to the health services will also affect private retail sales of drugs. The agreement provides that the trade price of drugs sold on the Irish market will not, on average, exceed 7½ per cent of UK trade prices. This will result in a significant reduction in the price of drugs supplied to retail pharmacies. The benefits of this reduction will be felt by all patients, including those whose expenditure is recouped through the drugs refund scheme.

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