Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not get a copy of the written reply and am wondering if it could be made available to me. If I could go back to what I said, the research shows that there would be a 67% reduction in hospitalisations, a 68% reduction in bed days, a 61% reduction in exacerbations, a 62% reduction in courses of oral corticosteroids and a 90% reduction in workdays lost. Economically, it shows that the drug is effective and the research is there. I accept that sometimes there is a difficulty getting a realistic price or quote from the drug companies for a drug but this matter should be reopened. There is a huge cost to the State in not having this available. At the moment hospitals are providing it to more than 300 patients but they are providing it from their own budgets. This matter should be re-examined.