Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Alexion Pharma is the company responsible for the drug. It has been engaged for some time in trying to arrive at a price that would assist the HSE in its desire to fund this medicine for people who need it. The HSE has been very adamant about that. The company is not that easy to deal with. We would like to think that this measure could be accommodated within the resources available. That is the reason, given the responsibility the HSE has for drug pricing and reimbursement, it must engage properly with the company producing the drug. My understanding is that the price being offered at the moment would involve the medicine in question costing €420,000 per annum for each additional patient that is treated. It is one of the most expensive drugs in the world. One cannot put a price on a life but the Health Service Executive and the Department have a responsible position to engage with Alexion Pharma to get the best deal possible for taxpayers but more fundamentally for the patients who need such treatment. The discussions between Alexion Pharma and the HSE have concluded and the HSE is now considering the outcome of those discussions and of that engagement. It is regrettable-----

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