Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
65 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date in his Department’s review of pharmaceutical expenditure and community pharmacy services; when he expects that the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18372/04]
View answerMy Department is reviewing pharmaceutical expenditure and community pharmacy structures in light of the recommendations of several reports in the area, including the pharmacy review group and Brennan reports.
These reports have identified a number of areas that need to be addressed, including measures to control the increase in the cost of the community drug schemes and drug costs in the GMS. To this end, I have established a small working group to evaluate all aspects of drugs prescribing under the various schemes, to determine the feasibility of recommendations in the reports and to make detailed proposals in relation to a number of specific issues.
Among the policy options being considered are increased use of generic medicines, pricing and reimbursement structures for the community drug schemes and pharmaeconomic assessment of reimbursable medicines.
