Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. It is important that we should improve our performance when it comes to licensing and reimbursing new medicines. We have fallen behind many of peer countries in that regard. It is not right or fair that patients in Ireland cannot get a medicine that they would be able to get via the NHS in Britain or in similar health services elsewhere. We need to up our game in that regard. Many of these medicines were invented and are being produced in Ireland. It is, therefore, a bit strange for us to encourage pharmaceutical companies to invest here and for us then not to purchase their products. It is something the Government is working on. We are providing additional funds this year for new medicines. Some 20 to 30 new medicines have been approved this year so far, which is what one would usually see in a full year. The situation is improving.

I do not have an update on the particular medicine the Deputy mentioned. I will ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on that and also on the publication of the two reports.

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