Mr. John Lynch:

In our experience it varies. Some of them are old products. The Deputy might be familiar with Amitriptyline, which has a specific usage nowadays, but there is no authorised version of it or Bendroflumethiazide, again not an authorised version, but older products.

As Dr. Breslin stated, we cannot speak on behalf of the companies, and what is commercially viable for one company may not be for another. On the other extreme, there are some new expensive medicines for specific conditions but it is commercially viable for a company to make an application through the European system for a central authorisation for those products. It depends on what a company sees as a commercial proposition.

We are seeking to ensure there is supply available for the initiation of these services.