Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

Senator Fitzgerald referred to reference pricing and the cost of generic drugs. Senator Feeney made a good point about GPs being mandated to prescribe a generic drug alternative, as should pharmacies, rather than the more expensive branded drugs. I am in favour of monitoring repeat prescriptions. People have massive quantities of medications in their homes which are returned when, sadly, a patient dies. These can only be disposed of as, legally, one cannot do anything with them. The monitoring of repeat prescriptions should be considered and GPs encouraged not to prescribe so many medications in the first place.