Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too welcome the opportunity to speak today on this Bill. Previous speakers have referred to many of the issues that are involved. This is a huge area and a serious issue that addresses the supply chain of vital medicines being prescribed by GPs for the health and welfare of the people. We should not lose sight of that during the debate; we are talking about the health and well-being of our families and communities. We sometimes talk about health care and think about large conglomerates and big business but when it comes into our own kitchens or bedrooms, it is a sensitive and important area. The Bill is technical in nature but the drafters and the HSE advisors must know best here. Perhaps we can tease it out a little on Committee Stage.

South Tipperary is almost the home of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland, there is a huge pharmaceutical presence there, with companies like Merck Sharp and Dohme, Clonmel Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline in Dungarvan over the border, Boston Scientific, Abbott Vascular and many more. They play a huge role in the community in south Tipperary, providing well paid employment and investment in the community. All these companies run various schemes to support community initiatives in Cashel and Clonmel and that is appreciated and recognised. I have been through these plants and the technology in them is fascinating. The investment that has been put into these workplaces is amazing and the process, from the raw materials right through to the production of the capsule we take, is amazing. We welcome these companies and want them to stay.

We must, however, also respond to pricing for customers. We cannot have a knee-jerk reaction but we must rein in costs and spending at this point particularly in view of the debate we have had in the last two nights on the Sinn Féin Private Members' motion and the general debate on home helps and cutbacks. We must strike the balance in every Bill. To quote some of the figures, in 2011, the HSE spent €1.9 billion on medicines and non-drug items for patients in the community. This includes mark-ups and dispensing fees paid to farmers and wholesalers. In addition, hospital expenditure was approximately €300 million. That is staggering by any measure. HSE expenditure on medicine and non-drug items is huge. We must recognise that and we all came under huge pressure when the former Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, was trying to rein in these costs. There are powerful lobby groups in the pharmaceutical sector. Anyone with that level of investment and employment can call the shots because they are needed in the country. It is a gateway to Europe but nevertheless they have massive investments and they must be balanced against our approach to driving down pricing.

This is a timely Bill and it sends out the message to these people that they must change their policy on generic drugs. Almost €2 billion was spent in 2010 on the GMS for drugs, a huge amount. It increased by 140% in the decade from 2000 to 2010, when everything went crazy in this country. We never thought we would see a poor day again during the boom but everything slid past and prices escalated. Now we are left to try to deal with these legacy issues. We cannot afford to continue paying that sort of money. We must also ensure continuity of supply and it is vital we have the latest medicines that have been tested and approved and that will improve people's health and well-being. That can never be forgotten.

The Bill has had a long gestation period with a lot of debate on the areas of generic substitutes and reference drugs. It is now time to act in a manner that avoids knee-jerk reactions so continuity of supply is maintained and above all the health and well-being of patients and all other citizens is protected and enhanced.

The IPU is worried about the review period of three months that the Department has set in the Bill. There must be review periods but the union is worried that we have all been lobbied and that this is too narrow a window that might affect continuity of supply. Perhaps some aspects could be reviewed every three months and the rest could be pushed out to six months. We need the review and we cannot have another decade like the one between 2000 and 2010, when everything just slid by.

The pharmacists should be thanked for the work they have done over the years. At this point they are working to overcome the delays in issuing medical cards. I know of countless cases where medical cards have not arrived but the pharmacists with their local knowledge knew the people and dispensed the drugs without payment. I compliment them for that and for being ready and willing at weekends and during the night to be available to supply drugs. We must protect those local, family-run pharmacists and chemists at all costs. I have nothing against bigger chains like Boots but I do not want to see smaller, family-run business being forced to shut; they are all good employers and practitioners, who have invested huge amounts in their education and the establishment of a practice. They must be protected while we deal with charges and costs because these are valuable employers in the towns where they operate.

I differ from Deputy Ó Caoláin on the prescription charge.

We have to look at it in a holistic manner and cannot bash the large companies with which we have to deal. Those of us who have canvassed houses, and we all have to do it in order to become Members, will have seen a large amount of medicines on the dresser in some of them, to the extent that one could almost be in a chemist shop. That is dangerous because much of it may be out of date and the elderly and people who are not well may make mistakes in terms of an overdose. The 50 cent charge is a pittance. Nothing should be totally free. I mean that. I do not want to be hard on people but having discussed the matter with the then Minister, Mary Harney, I thought the charge would be more. We are trying to educate people to the fact that there is a cost for drugs, tablets and prescriptions. There is no better way to educate people than to tell them there is a cost. That is the way is has to be done.

I appreciate the time made available to me. I wish the Minister of State well and hope the Bill gets a speedy passage and is dealt with sensitively to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people. We must also safeguard the local family run pharmacists and businesses as too many of these businesses are being lost across society. All big is not wonderful. We must protect them as they are employers, ratepayers, taxpayers and provide a valuable service to the community.

See this speech in context