Teva Criticizes Irish Consultants’ Boycott, Pledges Continued Medicine Supply

Teva Pharmaceuticals said on November 8 that it disagreed with the Irish Hospital Consultants Association’s decision to boycott its products. The Israeli drugmaker expressed disappointment at the move and said it would continue working with Irish healthcare professionals to keep supplying medicines. Its response followed the association’s vote the previous week. Teva said it had manufactured medicines in Ireland for more than 30 years, serving patients and healthcare professionals both in Ireland and abroad. The company said: "Healthcare shouldn't be politicized, and treatment decisions should be guided by clinical evidence, patient need, and professional judgment." It said it remained committed to constructive cooperation with healthcare professionals and a consistent supply of high-quality medicines. It also warned that restricting medicines for reasons unrelated to patient care could undermine access to the treatment best suited to a patient’s condition. The association’s motion encouraged consultants to avoid prescribing, administering or using Teva products when clinically appropriate equivalent alternatives are available. It stipulated that patient safety, continuity of treatment and clinical outcomes should be preserved, and offered support to clinicians taking that course on ethical grounds. Thomas Donnelly, a consultant at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, proposed the motion amid the association’s concerns about the Gaza conflict.