Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

There was very good news today for 35 children in the State who live with cystic fibrosis. The families and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland have fought very hard on the injustice of these 35 children not having access to certain drugs. There are huge lessons to be learned, not only with regard to reimbursement but also around companies like Vertex International, the pharmaceutical company that is based in Dublin. This company has made a grotesque amount of profit, particularly on this drug. These profits run not into millions but billions of euro. The lesson must be learned as to why these companies have governments and, more importantly, families over a barrel with regard to accessing these drugs. What lessons are to be learned considering that we have a huge pharmaceutical industry in Ireland?

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