asked the Minister for Health if, having regard to the significant cost of drugs within the general medical service and at hospital level, he will ask the National Development Corporation to undertake a feasibility study into the possibility of establishing an enterprise to manufacture a range of generic drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Generic Drugs.
215.
The entire concept of a State owned drug manufacturing enterprise was comprehensively examined within my Department in 1983 and the outcome of that review was submitted to the then Minister. It became clear that this proposal had little to recommend it. Any such State company would be solely restricted to the manufacture of generic versions of drugs whose patent protection had expired. There are already two relatively large Irish manufacturing companies who are very active in this particular area of enterprise both with regard to exports and domestic supply. These companies must already compete with generic houses in the UK. I do not accept that it has been established that a State drug manufacturing company could improve upon the market performance of the existing Irish manufacturing enterprises in the generic sector. The State would remain dependent on other companies for imported supplies of patent protected products, which account for a majority of all items prescribed and dispensed in the GMS.