Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Colm Burke. I am taking this issue on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelley.

The State spends substantial sums on medicines yearly with the goal of keeping people in Ireland healthy. This expense has grown to more €2.5 billion per year. Considering the financial consequences of funding medicines, it is important we have the best possible system to decide which medicines to fund. The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 legislates for the system we use now. For a medicine to be added to the reimbursement list, it must undergo the pricing and reimbursement process. This is a rigorous process that aims to ensure the HSE procures medicines that are safe, effective and the best value for money. Dedicated funding of almost €100 million has seen more than 112 new additions to the reimbursement lists in the past two years, including 34 medicines for people with rare diseases. Budget 2023 has again provided €18 million in funding and the Minister is hopeful the process will make even more medicines available to patients in need. In 2019, the consulting firm Mazars was commissioned to review this process by the then Minister for Health. This report was delivered to the Department in early 2020. Consideration of the report was delayed as resources were diverted to focus on the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department has now reviewed the report and the Minister plans to publish it imminently.

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