Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to require pharmaceutical companies, medical equipment suppliers and their servants or agents, to declare payments, gifts, donations or other transfers of values provided to healthcare professionals or health care organisations on an annual basis.

I am happy to introduce the Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill with my colleagues, Deputies Cullinane and Seán Crowe. We know that payments to healthcare professionals and organisations can create conflicts of interest. Evidence shows that receipt of payments from the pharmaceutical industry, for example, is associated with higher prescribing rates, higher prescribing costs, increased use of specific drug classes, including opioids, and lower prescribing quality, with consequent impact on health outcomes and, in public health systems, on the public purse. The popular programme "Dopesick" highlighted an extreme case to great effect in the context of the opioid epidemic in the United States. In Ireland, tens of millions of euros are paid to healthcare professionals and organisations each year by the pharmaceutical industry. While a voluntary register of these payments is currently in place, recent research conducted by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland found that the identity of many recipients is anonymous, while other payments may not be reported at all. Payments from medical equipment suppliers or medical device companies are also excluded.

The current voluntary system is inadequate. It is not fit for purpose. The Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill is needed to bring Ireland in line with international best practice and is a measure in the interest of professionals, organisations and the general public. This legislation would require pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment suppliers to declare all payments to the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, on an annual basis and provides for penalties for failure to do so. The Bill also provides for the HPRA to establish and maintain the register and to ensure it is searchable and accessible to the public. Such a system will enhance transparency, public trust and ethical standards, while providing a regulated environment for productive collaboration. I commend the Bill to the House.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This Bill is important for transparency purposes. We know fees are paid to healthcare professionals or organisations for a range of reasons, including consultancy, speaking events, analysis and medical writing, with no proper record of the payments made and their purpose. Gifts can also come in the form of conferences and payments for travel, accommodation and registration costs. Evidence shows that in other jurisdictions, payments and gifts from the pharmaceutical industry are associated with higher prescribing rates and costs for certain products, increased use of specific drug classes and products and lower prescribing quality. The opioid crisis in the United States, fuelled by payments, gifts and misleading information from a pharmaceutical corporation to prescribers, highlights the need for controls and transparency.

A voluntary register exists but it has no teeth. It is maintained by the pharmaceutical sector and not a regulatory body. Research from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, RCSI, found that the identify of many recipients remained anonymous and that other payments were likely not being recorded at all.

A huge amount of work needs to be done to create a better culture of transparency in the HSE. That is for sure. This deals with a very specific issue, however. I hope that when we move the Bill on Second Stage, it will be supported by Government.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is the Bill opposed?

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."