Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Treatment of Rare Diseases: Discussion

2:00 am

Professor Maarten Postma:

Is the Deputy referring to the health technology assessment? I do not know the exact number but what I do take from the discussion so far is that the situation in the Netherlands is certainly not as good as it is in your country. We have denied reimbursement for various rare diseases drugs. We also now have a lock for expensive drugs, which means another delay of one year. There is a shortage of staff and drugs await assessment. I apologise that I do not have the exact numbers. The situation with us is actually worse. Your country is better off in general here, I would say. I hope that helps.