Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I thank the Minister for her reply. I assure her the Labour Party will be keen to support her in any move towards the use of generic drugs, so long as it is reasonable.

Is it not possible for the Minister to ensure that generic drugs are prescribed more often by GPs to those patients who are not GMS patients? The GMS scheme currently encourages the use of generic drugs. What is stopping the Minister from ensuring that the same principle is applied to private patients of GPs? The Minister has stated she is considering a number of options. Does this include a cap on very expensive drugs? Will she comment on the fact that some new drugs are extremely expensive and that a cap on their use is applied in other countries? Is she considering its application here?

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