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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 8

Written Answers. - Use of Generic Drugs.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

78 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, (1) the proportion, if any, of drugs prescribed under the general medical services scheme that are generic drugs, (2) the steps, if any, that are being taken to increase this proportion; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

It is estimated that slightly over 5 per cent of the total ingredient cost of drugs and medicines in the GMS is spent on generic drugs. The comparable figure in the UK is 9 per cent. An independent study carried out at the time of the review of the GMS contract in 1990 estimated that if on every possible occasion the lowest price equivalent drugs were prescribed and dispensed in the scheme savings of £8 million would be realised.

My Department have taken a number of steps to promote the use of generic drugs. The recently introduced drugs strategy considers the introduction of greater levels of generic prescribing to be an important part of the strategy.
Among the actions taken under the strategy to promote the use of generics was the issuing of the national drugs formulary to general practitioners and to hospital doctors and to hospital and community pharmacists, which lists drugs by generic name and helps familiarise general practitioners with the use of generic names in place of proprietary names. Throughout the formulary, medicines have been recommended on the basis of their general acceptance as being the medicines of first choice; the setting up of the National Therapeutics Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Professor William Shannon among other matters, will be advising doctors on appropriate, safe, effective and cost-efficient prescribing; the issuing of indicative prescribing targets to doctors participating in the GMS. The use of generic drugs will of course assist doctors in achieving their targets and the setting up of a drugs unit within the GMS (Payments) Board and my Department to provide information to general practitioners on their prescribing patterns and costs. This information will provide the basis for self-education by general practitioners regarding the most appropriate and cost effective drugs to prescribe.
It is intended that these measures will encourage the greater use of generic drugs within the GMS scheme.
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