Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

During research and development a pharmaceutical substance is given an international non-proprietary name, INN, or a generic name. This INN is generated by the World Health Organisation for all pharmaceuticals worldwide. Each INN is a unique name that is globally recognised and is public property. The method used for assigning each INN promotes the identification of the drug class by the use of common stems for medicines within the same class. These factors reduce the potential for confusion when prescribing a medicine or when seeking to identify a drug that the patient has been taking. INN prescribing is supported as it is widely recognised as a means of promoting safer and clearer prescribing.

Greater levels of INN prescribing can and should be achieved in Ireland. Irish medicines law, however, does not currently mandate INN prescribing by medical practitioners for several reasons. First, many exemptions would need to be included in law for all of the circumstances in which INN prescribing is not appropriate. Second, the enforcement of such a requirement under law would be either ineffective or have consequences for patient care. I am satisfied that the provisions of this Bill will ensure that patients can access the most cost-effective and appropriate medicines available.

Part 2, Chapter 2 sets out the duties of pharmacists regarding prescriptions for interchangeable medicinal products which are written under a brand name. The purpose of this chapter is to provide clarity to both pharmacists and patients in terms of how the provisions of the Bill will apply in four different scenarios. While I do not intend outlining in detail how generic substitution will operate under these four different scenarios, on Committee Stage I agreed with Deputies on the importance of communication in ensuring the successful implementation of the Bill’s provisions. In this context, I am of the view that the professionals involved - the prescriber and the pharmacist - will communicate with the patients concerned so people know what is being done. The provisions contained in Chapter 2 provide clarity to both pharmacists and patients on how the rules about substitution will apply in these four important scenarios. This will ensure that both parties are clear on the application of the rules and will enable the pharmacist to offer to dispense the interchangeable medical product which is the least expensive to the State and the patient, thereby delivering on one of the key objectives of this Bill. For these reasons, respectfully, I do not propose to accept these amendments.

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