The Government has decided to introduce a system of reference pricing combined with generic substitution under the GMS and community drugs schemes. This will promote price competition and deliver ongoing savings for both the State and for patients. A working group, made up of officials and healthcare professionals from my Department and the HSE, is setting out proposed steps for implementing this initiative. I expect to see significant progress on this in 2010, including the identification of legislative and administrative changes required to give it effect in 2011. There are some categories of medicines that are not suitable for substitution. In addition, there are also certain circumstances where an individual patient should receive a particular product.
With a system of generic substitution, it is important that all decisions about the interchangeability of medicines are evidence-based and take into account best practice elsewhere. It is envisaged that an expert group will provide guidance on this matter. I have received correspondence from the Irish Osteoporosis Society in relation to studies on the usage of generic versions of a particular medicine used for the treatment of osteoporosis. This information will be taken into account during the implementation process.
