Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this question. It is an issue of considerable concern, particularly for sufferers. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, has made it clear that he wishes to make progress on this issue.

There is no attempt by the Government to talk down the benefits of this. Indeed, other Ministers have met families directly affected and are very aware of the concerns. However, approval of a drug of this nature has been taken out of the political process, as the Deputy knows. We have decided, as an Oireachtas, that this would be decided based on the medical evidence and we have appointed those to be expert on this. As the Deputy rightly said in his comments, both the effectiveness and the cost must be considered. The National Centre for Pharmoeconomics, NCPE, which has expertise in this area, has been clear that it views that this company is not approaching this in the proper way and is not showing sufficient concern for patients' needs in the approach it is taking to the pricing of this particular product. There have been intense discussions between the Health Service Executive and the company to seek to get agreement.

It is not without note that none of the other Governments that have sought to find agreement have been able to reach agreement. Canada, Australia and other countries have not been able to reach agreement with this company and the Minister for Health has taken the step of aligning himself with those other countries in order that we can form a group together to get a proper and decent outcome for patients suffering from this condition, some of whom can significantly benefit from this product, of that there is no doubt. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is acutely aware of the position and is not only continuing to press the work that is done here but is seeking to get co-operation from across other Governments and Ministers for health who are in a similar position seeking to get a good outcome for their patients. The product has to be brought within an affordable level. The NCPE has to be in a position to show that this treatment will be effective at the price at which the drug is being provided. That work is being pursued very intensively. The Minister has taken the unusual step of seeking to get a coalition of other Governments to approach this company in a concerted way in order that we can get assurance that this product, which has hugely beneficial effects for some sufferers of cystic fibrosis, can be made available. I assure the Deputy that everything will be done but it will be done within the legal provision that we have all agreed in this House.

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