Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) - the IPHA represents the international research-based pharmaceutical industry in Ireland

Latest News

Archive | RSS

Letter to the Editor re "Tackling drug costs" Editorial(02/08/2010): Madam, I wish to comment on some of the statements contained in your editorial “Tackling drug costs” of the 5th February. The spend by the Irish State on medicines is, actually amongst the lowest in Western Europe. According to the latest available OECD data, Health at Glance 2007, pharmaceutical expenditure per capita in Ireland was just $320 whilst the OECD average was $413 and countries like Germany ($498), Spain ($515) and France ($554) spent well in excess of this sum. Taking another measure, pharmaceutical expenditure as a percentage of healthcare expenditure, the OECD average for 2007 is 17.6% whereas the Irish figure is just 14%.
Lower price of medicines may save Irish patients up to €500 per year(02/01/2010): The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) announced that with effect from today, the 1st February 2010, the cost of long established medicines would be reduced by 40%. IPHA, the representative body for the international research-based pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, has set up a special website on which patients can check to see if their medicines are listed, and the price reduction. The website – www.checkthelist.ie - carries a detailed list of all the medicines and their new, lower prices. A lo-call number – (1890) 876 700 – has also been set up. checkthelist.ie includes some of the most commonly prescribed medicines in the country.
EVM Contributes to Council of Europe Hearing on “The Handling of The H1N1 Pandemic: More Transparency Needed?”(01/26/2010): European Vaccine Manufacturers (EVM) welcomed the opportunity to address today’s Council of Europe Health Committee hearing on ‘The handling of the H1N1 pandemic: more transparency needed?’ EVM was pleased to provide information on industry’s role in helping combat pandemic influenza, and sought to address many of the misunderstandings that exist regarding the pandemic planning process. The EVM rejected allegations of inappropriate behaviour by vaccine producers during the response to H1N1 influenza, and provided additional clarity in several key areas.