Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I do. Do the witnesses have any views on the use of combo drugs like Vimovo that are coming onto the market? Two molecules are combined by a company to reduce the drug from two to one. However, the two components are far cheaper individually. We have seen an emergence of that kind of smartness, as I would consider it, on the part of drug companies, where two off-patent drugs are combined. For the prescriber, it is sold to some extent as having the patient on one tablet instead of two, leading to better adherence to a regime. How can we deal with that and the cost of it?

Somebody spoke about cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressants. This is a huge issue and I have seen it in community regarding people with certain means, the mental capacity, and the people within their lives to assist them. I know one particular girl in her 30s who spent €5,000 on cognitive behavioural therapy over six months. She did not want to go on antidepressants. She did not really have the means but she got them and she was fixed up fine. That is just prohibitively expensive for anybody, however. In the case of a 15 year old, it is so important that, where possible, we do not medicate young minds unless absolutely necessary. If there is a cognitive behavioural method available, it should definitely be prioritised for young people.

It was said that there were 650 people on trolleys. There are now 362 people, which is down 20% on the same day last year. I have to do something for the Government while I am here.