Drug prices in Ireland are governed at present by an agreement between the Department of Health and the Federation of Irish Chemical Industries. The current agreement permits either party to give one year's notice of intention to renegotiate or terminate the agreement after its expiry on 31 July 1990. My Department have served 12 months' notice to this effect.
In this regard, an inter-departmental committee, representative of the Departments of Health, Finance and Industry and Commerce, are currently examining a number of options for containing the State's total drugs bill, and will finalise their report shortly. I intend to bring forward proposals for Government in this area in the very near future.
It has always been my view that in the interest of patients generally and of the economy generics should be prescribed as much as possible and that Irish-branded generics should also be used, all things being equal.