Vol. 404 No. 1
198 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he has any proposals for the introduction of a price control mechanism for drugs and medicines requisitioned by medical prescription in view of the wide disparity that currently exists in the price structure of such drugs and medicine.
The current position in relation to the price of drugs and medicines in the public health service is that they are governed by a voluntary agreement with the drug industry. Under this agreement, which came into effect on 1 August 1990 and will run for three years, the following main terms apply: wholesale drug prices in Ireland cannot exceed the corresponding price in the UK; prices are fixed for 12-month periods and annual price realignments will take account of price movements in designated European countries; minimum discounts of 15 per cent are paid in respect of hospital products.
