Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. De Block. I have one supplementary question. Belgium provides a fast-track, early temporary reimbursement model. As Deputy Colm Burke said earlier, Ireland's waiting times are significantly longer than most of our EU counterparts. Will Ms De Block give us her analysis of what that fast-track model has done in terms of better outcomes for patients? Quite often in Ireland, it is thrown at us that the HSE and Department of Health through tough negotiations save the State hundreds of millions but, in that analysis, there is very little reference to the benefits of earlier interventions through early access to medicine. Has Belgium done any analysis on how patients’ lives have improved and how health outcomes have improved, be it an economic assessment or a qualitative assessment of better health outcomes?