Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for attending. I would like the Minister for Health to outline the further action he intends to take to address the large variations in drug prices nationwide as revealed in the recent survey published by the National Consumer Agency, NCA. The survey reveals significant differences in the cost of prescription medicines. The cost of a prescription can vary depending on the chemist a person chooses. The NCA survey highlights that for 39 frequently prescribed medicines, there are major differences in price, both locally and nationally. The key findings were that, nationally, the percentage difference in prices of individual prescription medicines ranged from 37% to 199% and the average percentage difference across all products nationally was 56%. Losec is a prescription medicine used by many people who suffer from stomach ulcers. There was a 122% difference in the cost of a 20 mg tablet in Waterford with prices ranging from ¤22.43 to ¤49.69. We are not talking about wine, spirits, meat or vegetables; we are talking about medicines people need. Surely the Minister for Health can find a way to flatline this situation for the citizens of this country.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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The NCA's survey found substantial variation in the prices charged for prescription medicines in pharmacies. At national level, the percentage difference found in the prices of 39 individual prescription medicines ranged from 37% to 199%, the average percentage difference being 56%. The HSE reimburses pharmacists for products dispensed under the general medical services scheme and other community drug schemes, for example, the drug payment scheme, DPS, in accordance with the reimbursement rates set out in the list of reimbursable items.

Under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009, the fees and allowances paid by the HSE to pharmacists were reduced in 2009 and again in 2011. These reductions resulted in cumulative savings to the HSE of approximately ¤154 million per annum. These measures included a reduction in the wholesale mark-up on drugs from 17.66% to 8%. In addition, the retail mark-up payable under the DPS and the long-term illness scheme was reduced from 50% to 20%. The reduction in the cost of medicines should be of benefit to all patients who hold a DPS card, whether they reach the ¤144 threshold per month. I would be disappointed if all pharmacists were not passing on the benefits of lower prices and mark-ups to patients.

I urge customers to consult the HSE website to check the prices of their prescription medicines. If they are being charged more than the price listed - that is, if they are being charged more than a 20% retail mark-up - they should raise it with their pharmacy. It is open to patients to move their custom to a different pharmacy if they are dissatisfied with the prices being charged by their current pharmacy. The Department of Health is also raising the issue of price transparency with the regulatory body for pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, PSI. While it would not be possible to display the price of each of the approximately 7,000 medicines currently on the market in Ireland, the PSI is being asked to examine how greater price transparency can be achieved.

In addition to the measures I have outlined, the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012, which passed Committee Stage in the Dáil on 19 March, provides for the introduction of a system of generic substitution and reference pricing. It is important to note that the top two products identified by the NCA as having the largest percentage price variation nationally are Losec, which was mentioned by the Senator, and Zoton. Both of these products belong to a group of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors and this group will be one of the first to be assessed for interchangeability and reference pricing once the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012 is enacted. This legislation will promote price competition among suppliers and pharmacists and ensure lower prices are paid for these medicines resulting in further savings for both taxpayers and patients.

On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which is of concern to many people.

Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent)
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I take great comfort from the Minister of Health's reply and, in particular, his statement that "The Department of Health is also raising the issue of price transparency with the regulatory body for pharmacists". I cannot stress how strongly I feel about this. While it is not comparable, I work in the food industry. Would it not be wonderful if we could agree a recommended retail price with pharmacists and the drug companies for Losec of, say, ¤5.99 or ¤9.99 in order that a pharmacist could not have control over prices? They can do what they want with the Christmas gifts and frippery they sell depending on location but we must achieve a flatline for drugs that people who are suffering need. A recommended retail price fro the top 50 drugs used in Ireland would be a simple way to control prices because they are difficult to control.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for her comments and, hopefully, Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill 2012, which will come to the House, will address most of the difficulties she has outlined.