Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 818: To ask the Minister for Health the cost to the health system of inappropriate prescribing and wastage of pharmaceuticals within the system; his plans to address the costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40816/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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A number of studies have estimated the prevalence and cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing for different groups of patients. However, there is no overall estimate of the cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing in Ireland.

The HSE is implementing a range of initiatives to maximise the appropriate prescribing of medicines. These include working in partnership with key health professionals to develop pathways for quality prescribing, promoting the use of clinical protocols for the delivery of evidence-based prescribing, developing the role of community pharmacists and introducing patient-held prescribing records. In addition, the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service has introduced an on-line facility for GPs to review and self-audit their individual prescribing practice in comparison with the national average, which has been standardised for the individual GP's patient profile.