Vol. 487 No. 3
182 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the cost of aspirin appears to have rapidly escalated in the past 12 months, that some shops are selling the product for almost £6 for 28 tablets, where previously it was £1.80 for 100 tablets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3755/98]
The price, ex-manufacturer, of drugs and medicines prescribable and reimburseable in the general medical services scheme and in the community drug schemes is controlled through a mechanism of an agreement between the Department of Health and Children, the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association and the Irish Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association. In the case of aspirin products generally, I am not aware that there is any significant increase in price over the last 12 months.
In the case of products containing 75 milligrams of aspirin, intended for the management of cardiovascular disease and in respect of which there are now three products available, it appears that a significant price increase has occurred. This apparent price increase has arisen out of the placing on the market of two new proprietary forms of the product which had previously only been available in a non-proprietary form, at a trade price of £1 per hundred tablets. This remains the position today.
In February 1997 dispersible aspirin tablets 75 milligrams was placed on the market in a proprietary form on the basis of an authorisation granted by the Irish Medicines Board. The trade price of this new proprietary product was £2.94 for 28 tablets. This product complied fully with the terms of the pricing agreement in place and, accordingly, was admitted to the GMS scheme. The authorisation holder of this proprietary form was the distributor in this country of the previous non-proprietary product. On the introduction of the proprietary form, the non-proprietary form immediately ran into short supply.
Following receipt of many complaints about the lack of availablility of the non-proprietary product and the apparent price increase the Department wrote to the company concerned seeking an explanation regarding the non-availability of the non-proprietary form of the product.
