Ireland’s Minister for Health has published a consultation paper on overhauling the nation’s approach to biosimilar medicines. The paper indicates that the Irish government is developing a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy “to promote the rational use of biosimilar medicines and to create a sustainable environment for biological medicines in Ireland.”
Ireland’s Minister for Health has published a consultation paper on overhauling the nation’s approach to biosimilar medicines. The paper indicates that the Irish government is developing a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy “to promote the rational use of biosimilar medicines and to create a sustainable environment for biological medicines in Ireland.”
The consultation paper highlights the fact that only 11 biosimilars are currently reimbursable by the state’s healthcare system, while over €200 million (approximately $235 million) is spent each year on biologic drugs that already have approved biosimilars or that will have available biosimilars by 2018.
Currently, Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority supports physician-led switching of biologics and biosimilars, but stresses that any change in prescribing should be made in consultation with the patient. However, the health authority discourages repeated switches and prohibits automatic substitution with biosimilars at the pharmacy level. Looking forward, the paper indicates that Ireland should consider the following policies and how they have affected biosimilar uptake in the European Union (EU) in order to inform its own approach to the drugs:
Prescribing
Education
Incentives and Disincentives
Tendering and Pricing
Preventing Inappropriate Business Practices
Publication of the consultation paper follows a Department of Public Expenditure report, published in May, that urged the Irish government to make substantial changes to its policies in order to rein in drug spending. The paper explained that the Irish government spends €2 billion per year (approximately $2.36 billion), or 15% of its total healthcare expenditure, on drugs. That number is only expected to grow as new, high-cost drugs continue to dominate the healthcare marketplace; the paper cited an estimated 3% annual growth in drug spending until 2020.
The report also noted that Ireland has one of the lowest biosimilar adoption levels in Europe, across both EU- and non-EU states. With only a 15% uptake for biosimilar granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, Ireland was second only to Belgium in terms of the smallest market share for biosimilars.
The Irish Department of Health is holding a public comment period on the consultation paper through September 22, 2017.
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