Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will look at how effectively much of the €14 billion fund is being spent in areas of the HSE. I am quite sure a significant amount can be saved. We can all understand it would be nice to have a specific fund for exceptionally expensive drugs used to treat a smaller number of patients who really need them because of their particular ailments. I would like to think we can speed up the process of getting a decision and a conclusion in order that hope can be restored to these patients and that they can be confident the State has not forgotten about them. There is a balance to be struck in all of these things. We are paying over €1 billion on drugs every year. That figure is going to increase by a further €500 million in the coming years. While these are things that have to be taken into account in respect of the taxpayer, one cannot put a price on human life.

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