Irish hospital association calls for boycott of Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) passed a motion this week calling for a boycott of medical products made by Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva, according to the Irish Examiner. The motion urges hospital consultants to avoid prescribing or using Teva products whenever non-Israeli alternatives are available.

IHCA, which represents the nation's hospital-based medical specialists, claimed the decision was due to “significant ethical concern and international scrutiny” surrounding Teva Pharmaceuticals amid Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza.

“These concerns have led healthcare professionals in Ireland and internationally to question the continued use and procurement of Teva products where clinically appropriate alternatives are available,” IHCA announced in its statement.

The association pledged to support healthcare professionals who refuse to use Teva products for “ethical reasons,” ensuring they do not face professional repercussions or disciplinary action.

The organization acknowledged that the motion was influenced by broader boycott efforts and international campaigns to isolate Israel. Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva has faced increasing pressure from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement since the start of the Gaza war.

However, there are concerns that the move could negatively affect Irish patients, as Teva products account for one in every eight prescriptions in Ireland.

The motion was proposed by Thomas Donnelly, a consultant at Children’s Health Ireland, who cited his treatment of patients injured in Gaza as a reason for supporting the Teva boycott.

“As a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, I have treated families from Gaza whose injuries are devastating and will require lifelong management. Several of these patients have lost family members in the same explosions that have resulted in amputations or other irreparable damage,” Donnelly said. “To then contemplate that products I prescribe or administer could, even indirectly, contribute to further bombardments is unconscionable.”

“Where a clinically appropriate alternative exists, I cannot in good conscience use Teva Pharmaceuticals products,” he added.

Ireland has emerged as one of Israel’s harshest critics in the Western world, recognizing Palestinian statehood in 2024, seeking to broaden the definition of genocide in its ICJ case against Israel, calling for a review of EU-Israel trade relations, and advocating boycotts of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest and other international forums.

In 2024, Israel closed its embassy in Ireland due to what was described as antisemitic actions and rhetoric.

Teva ranks among the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. According to industry estimates, Teva products saved Ireland approximately $1.9 billion between 2013 and 2018.

Last month, the British Royal College of Nursing and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society also ended their partnerships with Teva UK, citing alleged conflicts between their institutional values and the company’s activities. Teva estimates that its products save the British National Health Service (NHS) around $3.2 billion annually. UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), an organization opposing anti-Israel discrimination, condemned the decisions, arguing that healthcare institutions should not participate in political boycott campaigns or penalize companies because of their Israeli identity. It also criticized the lack of adequate explanation or consultation, saying the decisions appeared to have been made under pressure from activists.