Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The present model is not sustainable because the number of drugs that will come onto the market over the next five years for rare and ultra-rare diseases, and for new cancer treatments, will be so costly that no health system can afford to supply them all. We need to change our model for dealing with pharmaceutical companies because it will be unaffordable. What is the benefit compared with other health initiatives, such as supporting people in the community, looking after frail elderly people at home, looking after our hospital structures and developing our new model of care, Sláintecare, which is in the doldrums at the moment?