Cost effective prescribing of proton pump inhibitors (PPI's) in the GMS Scheme.

Total expenditure under the Community Drugs Schemes in Ireland on the proton pump inhibitors (PPI's) used for the management of patients with dyspepsia was approximately 64 million Euro in 2002, an 8-fold increase since 1995. As PPI maintenance therapy accounts for the majority of this expenditure we determined potential cost savings to the GMS scheme should the prescribing of these drugs for maintenance therapy follow published clinical and cost effectiveness guidelines. Substitution, in accordance with therapeutic indication, of the PPI with the greatest individual cost i.e. omeprazole (Losec Mups) with any of the alternative agents particularly the generic omeprazole preparations Ulcid & Lopraz, rabeprazole (Pariet) and pantoprazole (Protium) would be expected to produce cost savings in excess of 5 million Euro per annum. These savings may be further enhanced by increasing the step down from healing to maintenance doses of these drugs.