29/04/2014

The Best Medicine Will Continue To Be Prescribed - Lynch

Patients who require a specific medicine that is not suitable for substitution by a generic will be able to continue their original prescription, the HSE has confirmed in a response to a Parliamentary Question by Labour TD Ciaran Lynch.

Deputy Lynch said: "The introduction of generic medicines is to be strongly welcomed, as it will makes significant savings to the Exchequer. However, it is important that the medicine that works best is provided to patients.

"I welcome the position by the HSE, that where the medicine is specific and required, that facility will continue.

"They have clarified to me that, in cases where the patient’s doctor believes a prescribed product should not be substituted, the doctor can simply mark 'do not substitute' on the prescription. In this way, the product will be exempt from substitution, and the patient can keep receiving the original medicine without an added co-payment."

(CD/IT)




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