Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Recommendation No. 13 in the committee's report of February 2018 was to work with other countries on the assessment process. It recommended that the HSE works with other European countries on dealing with assessments to expedite that process. Has anything been done on using the assessment process in other countries to help people arrive at a decision? Has there been co-operation with other countries in that area? There is a great deal of duplication in assessments. If something is passed by European Medicines Agency then each country examines it individually. The idea behind co-operation is that to speed up the process in dealing with that. Has anything been done on that area?

We hear every year that the cost of pharmaceuticals is approximately €2 billion but we do not get a breakdown of that. Are the figures available? The healthcare budget for the coming year is more than €17 billion. Is there a breakdown of what amounts are being spent on generic drugs, patent drugs and orphan drugs?

The other issue that arises is whether there is variation in the use of generic drugs from one part of the country to another. If we can save money in one area, it means more money could be available for another area. Perhaps there is an analysis of that but I have not seen it. We must examine that issue of value for money as well as value for money in the HSE. It is fine to say more money is being poured into healthcare but unless there are efficiencies or value for money, there will not be a benefit.

Can Mr. Hennessy provide a detailed breakdown in each area? Have savings been made since the legislation relating to generic drugs was introduced and, if so, where have those savings been made? Does a great deal more need to be done to make savings in order that more money is available for orphan drugs, accommodating the needs of people who have rare diseases and so forth and ensuring they can get the treatment they require? Mr. Hennessy probably does not have the information with him but can we get that detailed breakdown from the HSE at some stage? For example, last week I received a breakdown of staffing numbers in each area. There is a significant cost because an additional 13,500 staff have been recruited. Likewise, new drugs are being taken on as well so there is an added cost, but are savings being made in other areas?