Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 806: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will elaborate on one of the areas of responsibility of the Health Information and Quality Authority, that is, accessing the benefits of new treatment and technologies and insuring the best outcome for resources available to the Health Service Executive; if this could involve the authority limiting access by patients to expensive drugs or technologies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1988/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Bill 2006, published in December 2006, which is being debated in the Dáil, provides for the establishment of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services with specific statutory functions. The Authority will incorporate the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board. HIQA's main role will be to reinforce internal quality within the health system and at the same time to bring external quality assurance to bear in an objective manner.

However, it should be noted that the Health Bill 2006 does not give authority to HIQA to limit access by patients to expensive drugs or technologies. One of the functions of HIQA, as outlined in the Health Bill 2006, is to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies, including drugs and provide advice arising out of this evaluation to the Minister for Health and Children and the Health Service Executive.

Clinicians have always had to make decisions on the basis of both clinical need and resources available. However, as regards resources available to the services it might be noted that in the past six years (excluding the Office of the Minister for Children) gross current funding for the health services has increased by over €7 billion to €13.8 billion in 2007, or an increase of over100%. It is, of course, important that the health services are using these resources in an efficient and effective manner and, in that context, one of HIQA's functions will be to carry out reviews and make recommendations as the Authority thinks fit in respect of the services, to ensure the best outcomes/value for money for the resources available to the HSE.