Terence Flanagan
Question:457. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the pricing of medicine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55131/12]
View answerTuesday, 11 December 2012
Questions (457)
Written answers
In recent years, a number of changes to the pricing and reimbursement system have been successfully introduced in Ireland. These have resulted in reductions in the prices of thousands of medicines. Reductions in the prices of medicines and mark-ups have not been passed on to private patients by some pharmacists. The Code of Conduct for Pharmacists issued by the pharmacy regulator (the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland) requires pharmacists, amongst other things, to provide honest, relevant, accurate, current and appropriate information to patients regarding the nature, cost, value and benefit of medicines, health-related products and services provided by them. Every pharmacist has an obligation to comply in full with the statutory Code of Conduct. Patients have every right to ask a pharmacist the reasons for the price they are being charged and if dissatisfied can, if they so choose, transfer their custom to an alternative pharmacy. Expenditure on prescribed medicines is also eligible for tax relief.