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

It is a very important issue and one in which I am taking an interest. All of us find it hard to explain to patients or constituents why a medicine is available on the NHS or in Germany or France but is not yet available in Ireland.

Cancer survival rates have improved a lot in Ireland in recent decades. Rates are ahead of those in the UK but are still behind the EU average. The impact of what we did five or ten years ago is being seen in the statistics now. The impact of what is being done now will not be seen in the statistics for another five or six years. However, we have been a bit too slow to approve and reimburse some of these medicines. I will follow up on the publication of the report with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly.

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