Medicine Mark-Ups

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Health Minister Simon Harris

Minister for Health Simon Harris is patting himself on the back and feeling good because of the deal the HSE has done with the pharmaceutical companies. But what about the feelings of the ordinary Irish taxpayers, who fund the HSE but who also have to pay for their own medicines?

I was being charged over €20 for my monthly generic medicine at the local chemist. When I recently discovered that the “HSE price” was between €5 and €6, and queried this with the chemist, I was informed that the €20-plus price I paid was correct. Apparently this was made up of the HSE price (presumably this includes an element of profit for the chemist), plus a “prescription charge” (aka profit), plus a mark-up (profit again).

But it’s not all bad news. Luckily, I have a travel pass and now buy my medicine in Newry. For £5.

Michael Marr,
Dublin 13.

Price of generic medicins (Irish Times letters page)

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18 thoughts on “Medicine Mark-Ups

      1. dav

        no they need them alive, to justify their beliefs that it’s gods’ will that the poor should suffer

        1. Harry Molloy

          exactly, how can you know you’re superior unless you can kick the wretched poor aside as go to buy more fine brandy

    1. ahjayzis

      They’re obsessed with the elderly, the elderly are their core vote.

      It’s why pensions are protected while people in their 20’s are second class citizens when it comes to jobseekers benefit and housing. It’s why discretionary medical cards were withdrawn from kids with cancer while George Hook kept his. It’s why they’re encouraging higher house prices because the elderly own their homes and the young wanting to buy are lower than scum.

  1. Louis Lefronde

    Big Pharma is a disgrace and have been ripping us off for years. The HSE is just one gigantic money waste incinerator, over populated by middle management who wouldn’t get a kick in a stampede.

    But I will forgive the government if they legalise cannabis for medicinal use….. Big pharma won’t like it, but screw them anyway.

  2. Jake38

    Join Healthwave Pharmacy in Dundrum. 25 yoyos annually and your prescription for a much reduced price. Check them out.

  3. ahjayzis

    If the EU is a true single market – what’s stopping pharmacies and pharmacy chains from buying from Spanish or UK suppliers instead of being ripped a new one here? Why isn’t a Spanish discount pharmacy not moving into Ireland to do a Lidl/Aldi on the market?

    1. classter

      On the first part, it sounds as if much of the extra is going to the pharmacies?

      The second is an interesting one.

  4. The Bottler

    About 10 pharmacies in Wexford Town (Pop 10,000) also 10 pharmacies in central Fuengirola (Pop 75,000)…in Winter!

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