IPHA welcomes updated IPPOSI position on access to innovative medicines

The Irish Platform for Patient Organizations, Science & Industry (IPPOSI) continues its very valuable work in exploring how Ireland can perform better in making innovative medicines available to patients, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA).

The comment came in response to the publication of an updated version of its report: Steering a course to avoid the ‘drug iceberg’ – the challenges of accessing innovative drug therapies in Ireland and the call for a new national strategy.

IPHA chief executive Oliver O’Connor said: “IPHA has been highlighting that compared to other Western European countries Ireland is falling behind when it comes to making new medicines available. We are now slow and late with a reimbursement process lacking in transparency and not operating efficiently. IPPOSI has also identified this problem and adopted the very topical ‘Access to medicines’ as its theme for 2018 as reflected in its revised report.