Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

The issue of costs has been raised by previous speakers. It is not entirely clear from what Mr. O'Mahony has said what measures, if any, the board can take in this area. The key issue for the public, particularly those within easy distance of the North or with regular access to European markets, is that the difference in cost between medicines sold in this jurisdiction and elsewhere is absolutely astronomical. One can purchase medicines in Spain and elsewhere for as little as 10% of the cost of the same drugs in this jurisdiction. Will Mr. O'Mahony indicate what the board can do to address this situation? As Deputy Ó Caoláin pointed out, these cost differences apply in the case of generic as well as patented medicines.

The delegates indicated that the board has a regulatory function in regard to clinical trials. What are the general protocols in this regard? A suggestion was made in regard to the regulation of blood. I understand that while blood taken from haemochromatosis patients in many European countries is used, it is discarded here.

Is that the case and, if so, what is the basis for it? Will Mr. O'Mahony indicate whether it can be done differently?