Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the points made by the Senator, particularly in regard to the case he outlined about his own family. Certainly, that additional 18 months must have been immense comfort to his family at the time. It certainly gives a family additional time to come to terms with the loss of a loved one. It is critically important that the Mazars work is concluded and the recommendations brought forward.

A central component of the pharmaceutical expenditure is the HSE's pricing and reimbursement process for medicines. Following the publication by the Minister of the Mazars report which reviewed this process, a working group has been established to implement the recommendations of the report. After engagement with stakeholders, including patients, industry and clinicians, the group recommended approving capacity in key areas of the pricing and reimbursement process. An important structural measure to be brought in 2024 provides investment for the increased capacity recommended by the group. This will improve the functioning of the process and support efforts to reach sustainability in medicine spending. These improvements will strengthen access to medicines for patients in Ireland, which I am sure the Senator will welcome.