Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a need for the Cabinet sub-committee on health to engage with enterprise and the Department of Finance to bring about a coherent policy on pharmaceuticals, both from a pricing perspective and the perspective of attracting inward investment. No one knows where we stand on this issue. The recent developments in the use of Pembro and new cancer drugs were unacceptable. The new Minister did respond, but, unfortunately, his predecessor did not, despite the pharmacoeconomic unit having agreed as far back as last February to the release of Pembro. We need a proper policy on new drugs and technologies. It is essential. We need a coherent attitude on the part of the Government to the pharmaceutical industry and new drugs and technologies. I ask the Taoiseach to comment.

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