Galway’s public hospitals have had to dispose of over €900,000 worth of drugs and vaccines over the past five years due to products expiring.

These figures were provided in response to a question from City Councillor Shane Forde (FG) at Regional Health Forum West where it was heard that ensuring that medicines were available in hospitals meant there would always be a level of wastage.

Estimated figures provided to the forum showed that, between 2020 and July of 2025, around €243,000 worth of medications had to be disposed of at Galway University Hospitals (UHG and Merlin Park), while drugs and vaccines valued at approximately €660,000 were disposed of at Portiuncula.

Cllr Forde said that almost €1 million of taxpayers’ money had been lost as a result and called for tighter stock controls and the reallocation of expiring medicines.

“If the HSE had that money to spend, it could purchase 330 new hospital beds for the new hospital that is to be built,” he said.

“If a private entity lost €1 million in vaccines [and drugs], it would be a scandal,” he added.

The Fine Gael councillor said GP practices and pharmacies had better systems in place, and the HSE had employed people to redirect stock to areas where it was required, before it expired.

However, Integrated Health Area Manager Ann Cosgrove said the scale of the medicines that had to be available at UHG and Portiuncula had to be considered.

She said a new IT system to deal with stock management had recently been introduced.

“There is, unfortunately, a price, in terms of ensuring all necessary medication [is available] to deal with what’s coming in the door. That does lead to some level of waste,” said Ms Cosgrove.

Pictured: Ann Cosgrove…new IT system recently introduced.