Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 22 October 2015

Public Accounts Committee

Health Service Executive Financial Statements 2014
2014 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 39: Health Service Executive
Chapter 19: Compliance with Prompt Payment Legislation in the Health Sector
Chapter 20: Management of Private Patient Income in the Health Sector
Chapter 21: Control over the Supply of High-Tech Drugs and Medicines

10:00 am

Mr. Tony O'Brien:

These are two different things. The current or outgoing agreement has performed to expectation. All the savings that were envisaged for that agreement were produced, the only variance being that it kicked in six months or so later than was originally intended. It was meant to kick in either in 2012 or 2013 but did not do so until the beginning of the subsequent year. It has saved €400 million; in other words, we would have spent €400 million more for the same drugs without that agreement. Consequently, it would not be fair to state that it has not performed. Obviously, what is at stake now is that we are seeking to put in place a successor - and, incidentally, that agreement continues until the successor agreement is negotiated. What is important now is to put in place a successor agreement that delivers even more. That is what is-----

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