Durkan calls for action on prescriptions

A LONDONDERRY councillor has called for action to be taken to reduce the amount of money spent on prescriptions in Northern Ireland.

SDLP health spokesman Mark H Durkan has called for the Department of Health to take action to reduce the cost of prescriptions in Northern Ireland by setting more 'realistic targets'.

"The department should set realistic targets by which practices should reduce their prescribing next year, then give full and practical support to GPs in aiming to reach these. Similar attention should be paid to hospitals and care homes to ensure efficiency without detriment to patient care.

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"The department may also wish to examine exactly what is available on prescription. Many products that are available over-the-counter and are not even that expensive to purchase are being prescribed. This has added further to the spiraling cost of prescribing here." Mr Durkan said.

Mr Durkan said that Northern Ireland is one of Europe's most expensive areas in regards to prescriptions.

"The cost of prescribing drugs in Northern Ireland is the second highest in Europe per head of population, averaging 224 per person annually." Mr Durkan said.

Mr Durkan said that prescriptions in Northern Ireland cost more than those in Britain due to high demand in anti-depressants and sleep medication as a result of the Troubles.

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"While the legacy of the Troubles is certainly one of the reasons expenditure on prescriptions here is higher than across the water, however, there are measures that can be taken to bring these costs down to a more manageable level." Cllr Durkan said.

The SDLP health spokesman added that better co-operation and education was needed to help all parties involved.

"I know the health boards are advocating more prescribing of generic drugs as opposed to much more expensive, branded drugs. This is going to require not only the co-operation of GPs but also of patients- who will need educated and assured rather than coerced into switching brands, sometimes after many years.

"In some instances, even prices of the exact same drug vary wildly depending on the form in which it is prescribed. Doctors should all be informed of how to prescribe at best value." Mr Durkan said.