Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Mahony for coming before us. Why are Irish citizens forced to pay more for medicine than their counterparts in other countries? The HSE is paying up to 12 times as much as the NHS in Britain in respect of the same generic drugs. For example, it paid 42% more than the NHS for the commonly prescribed anti-depressive Lexapro. The HSE pays €44 for 20 Lexapro tablets, while the NHS pays €31 for the same number. It paid more than €16 million for this drug in 2010. In 2000 some €576 million was spent on prescribed drugs in this country. By 2010 this amount had increased to €1.9 billion. Will Mr. O'Mahony comment on why this is the case?