Letters to the Editor

See below the various letters to the editor sent by the IPHA on issues and current developments in the international research-based pharmaceutical industry.

“Rip off Ireland alive in some sectors” - Irish Times (01/23/2012): Dear Sir Dan O’Brien’s article “Rip off Ireland alive in some sectors” (20th January) perpetrates a common myth about the price of medicines in Ireland, which I would like to address. He says that, unlike in other countries, the Irish government did little during the bubble years to control pharmaceutical prices. This could not be further from the truth.
Generic Medicines - Irish Times (11/15/2011): Dear Sir, In the HEALTH PLUS supplement of your newspaper of 8th November, you carried a report on the comments of Prof Rose Anne Kenny of TCD at a recent international conference organised by the Centre for Ageing Research and Development. Prof Kenny is quoted as saying that “if we insisted on generic prescriptions for everyone, we could reduce our pharmacy bill at least by a third and that is a conservative estimate”. IPHA, whose member companies supply 85% of the medicines to the Irish health services, is not aware of any data to support this assertion. Indeed it should be noted that when IPHA Member companies agreed major price reductions with the Government in December 2010, many generic medicines remained more expensive than the branded form. Generic companies did not reduce their prices in line with IPHA Member companies for eight months, thereby costing the Exchequer and patients significant sums of money.
"Drive to cut medicine costs on the way" - Irish Medical News (10/12/2011): Dear Editor, I write in response to the lead article of 26th September last, “Drive to cut medicine costs on the way”. The article in question focused on the costs of the High Tech Medicines Scheme which has risen from €20 million in 1997 to €350 million in 2009 and the understandable desire of the HSE to reduce these costs and get “value for money”. It should be noted that in 1997 the Scheme was totally new with costs increasing due to a very steady increase in its uptake by those seeking treatment for chronic illness. It is also important to understand that in providing new options for the long-term treatment of chronic illness, the Scheme has led to improved life expectancy and quality of life, less time being spent in hospital (the average length of stay in an Irish hospital has been reduced from 9.6 days in 1981 to 6.3 days now- a decrease of almost a third), less time off work and less sick pay.
"Tackling drug costs" Editorial - Irish Times (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%.
“Prescription drugs a bitter pill” (07/02/2009): Dear Madam - I refer to the article “Prescription drugs a bitter pill” which appeared in the Irish Times on Monday, 29 June. Tim Delaney, posed the question as to “why governments agree with the astronomical prices charged for new medications by the pharmaceutical companies. ‘Why not ask the drug companies.........for a more ethical approach?’”
The Business of Pharmaceuticals (01/15/2008): Dear Madam - I refer to the article “EU regulations in OTC supplements spark minor war” which appeared in the Irish Times Health Supplement on Tuesday, 15 January. The article included claims by the Irish Association of Health Stores that pharmaceutical companies “don’t want people to stay healthy; they want people to take their medication. Their business is not health, its disease”.
Price of Medicines in Developing Countries (11/27/2007): Madam, - A report headed "Oxfam criticises drug firms for price and patent policies" (Irish Times, Health Supplement, November 27th) included claims by Oxfam that pharmaceutical companies are "guilty of denying medicines to millions of poor people".
Oxfam Charges Against the Pharmaceutical Industry (10/17/2007): Dear Madam - I refer to the charges made against the research-based pharmaceutical industry in an Oxfam leaflet titled “What’s worse than the effects of cheap drugs?” distributed with the Irish Times on the 15 October 2007.

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