THE HEALTH SERVICE Executive is missing out on potential savings because of a delay in introducing reference pricing of prescription drugs under the medical card scheme.
The Medical Independent has learned that if reference pricing had been introduced in 2010 for just two of the most widely prescribed drugs under the General Medical Services scheme, the HSE would have saved €19.07 million.
June Shannon reports that this figure would be saved on statins and proton pump inhibitors alone. The two drugs are commonly prescribed to control cholesterol and treat stomach problems.
Reference pricing refers to a type of drugs payment system which groups together pharmaceuticals with the same active ingredient. It would see pharmacists paid one price for the products in each group, regardless of whether it was a generic or a proprietary drug. The system is commonly used across Europe.
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