Ireland farm group wants medicine cost cuts extended

An Irish farm group has called for cuts in the price of animal health products to coincide with the reduction in the cost of branded medicines.

Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers' Association president Gabriel Gilmartin said if the price of medicines for patients can be reduced by 40%, the same reduction should also apply to animal health products.

Each of the major pharmaceutical companies has an animal health division and a very lucrative market in Ireland, Gilmartin said.

He said if this reduction can apply to medicines for people, there is no reason why it cannot be the same for veterinary medicines.