John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have about the right number of centres now. With Cork semi-officially open, that makes four, which is probably enough, as it has to be linked to places where cardiac surgery is done. The problem is that it is being done in an uncoordinated fashion and without a designated budget. When someone comes from another hospital that does not have a budget for cardiac surgery, he or she has less chance of getting the procedure than someone in a hospital where it is designated. The people in the latter hospital are limited also, because it is not seen as the national service.

I am more aware than most of competing demands. In fact, I gave a lengthy interview in a newspaper today about immoral and predatory pricing by drug companies with respect to new cancer drugs.This will save money. The problem is that it might not save it this year; that is the catch. We have to have Japanese style forward thinking in terms of health economics which, with great respect, the officials are very bad at, as are politicians, who tend to see things in terms of the next budgetary and electoral cycle. There is a need to understand that if we do this right now, we will save money.