In 2008, 18% of prescription items were dispensed generically and 25% of prescription items were dispensed as proprietary preparations when a generic equivalent was available on the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme.  Nineteen per cent (€163.36million) of the total ingredient cost of medications was spent on proprietary drugs where there was an equivalent generic product available on the GMS scheme.

On the Drug Payment (DP)/Long Term Illness (LTI) schemes 11% of prescription items were dispensed generically and 27% of prescription items were dispensed as proprietary preparations when a generic equivalent  was available.  Seventeen per cent (€64.40million) of the total ingredient cost of medicines was spent on proprietary drugs where there was an equivalent generic product available on the DP/LTI schemes.