Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One wonders about the timeframe as there is the potential for the 180 days to be on the never-never. If we consider the 420 modules and the drugs to be considered in the fullness of time, we will begin with the 20 most used, taking a cumulative six months to assess whether a drug will be on the list. There is no doubt it is in the interest of Pfizer, Abbott and others to object to it and it is safe to assume the fullness of the 180 days will be called upon by them with any delay tactics that the companies wish to apply.

If one module takes six months, for the first 20 we will be talking about ten years before generics will be available. In this country there is 20% generic usage and 80% non-generic usage. In the UK, the usage statistics are the other way around, saving people millions of pounds. There has been an indication that we will save €200 million over four years because of a new agreement on branded medicines but the timeframes in the Bill are nonetheless ridiculously long. In many ways it is not about this legislation but about what happens next. When will the top 20 medicines be fully interchangeable? Will it take ten years or longer, given the old rugby approach of stopping the clock when there are dissenters, as will happen?

I have a point on reference pricing but I must be specific to these amendments. There is a concern about whether we are approaching the matter in terms of real change as quickly as possible or whether we are appeasing those behind directives in the EU and the IMF by saying we have legislation in place, although it will be absolutely unenforceable in bringing about real savings and a supply of pharmaceutical products to people as quickly and cheaply as possible. The never-ending approach seems to have more of a hand for the branded sectors than the generic products in the field.

One wonders when generic producers will be cleared to be on the interchangeable list. I am told it can take six to 12 months before producers can be in a position to supply the market. We are talking about 180 days to be added to that six to 12 months, notwithstanding stopping the clock in between. Will the Minister of State give a genuine indication of when the top 20 medicines will be fully interchangeable. I am not trying to take a negative interpretation but I am playing devil's advocate. It seems it could take ten years at a minimum for those 20 medicines to be fully interchangeable and available.