Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If possible, I will make an addendum. I acknowledge that savings and progress have been made, but there are significant differentials. In particular, I am aware of the situation of the generic equivalent of Lipitor, a commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering drug that is four and a half times more expensive to me living on this side of the Border as it is to my neighbour a short distance North of the Border under the NHS system. We have a long way to go. The tragedy is that the arguments used by the pharmaceutical companies - a smaller market and greater transport distances - are ballyhoo, as many of the drugs in question are made on our own doorstep in Ireland and the travel distance is even shorter. We need to be much more bullish with the pharmaceutical sector.

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