Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016
311. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a drug (details supplied) which is supplied by the HSE to pharmacies at a cost of €35.50 is being sold on to consumers at a price of €64.81 by one pharmacy chain (details supplied); and if he will consider putting a cap on the prices chargeable for individual drugs by pharmacies. [23017/16]
View answerUnder the community drugs schemes, patients are supplied with medicines through over 1,800 community pharmacies. Pharmacies purchase the medicines from wholesalers or directly from drug manufacturers. The pharmacies are then reimbursed by the HSE, following dispensing.
The reimbursement prices of medicines paid for by the HSE are determined under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and agreements between the State and pharmaceutical representative bodies. The reimbursement prices of approved medicines are available on the PCRS page of the HSE website. Neither the Minister for Health nor the HSE has the power to set the price of medicines which are purchased privately.
The public are advised, where the price they are charged exceeds the reimbursement price plus a dispensing fee (usually under €5), to discuss this with their pharmacist and also to compare prices between different pharmacies. In addition, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has issued guidelines on minimum standards of information for customers, including the provision of itemised receipts.
