Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a situation regarding a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be investigated; and if the Health Service Executive will be instructed to provide the coated steroids. [6474/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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There is a common list of reimbursable medicines for the general medical services and drug payment schemes. This list is reviewed and amended monthly as new products become available and deletions are notified. The product referred to by the Deputy has not been deleted from the list.

An agreement is in place between the Department of Health and Children, the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, and the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Ireland, APMI, which sets out the supply terms and prices of medicines supplied to the health services. The agreement covers all reimbursable prescription medicines in the general medical services and community drug schemes as well as all medicines supplied to hospitals and the Health Service Executive. A price freeze is in place for products supplied under the terms of the agreement.

The original manufacturers of the product referred to by the Deputy divested ownership of the product to another company. The new owner subsequently increased the price of the product without prior consultation with my Department and in breach of the pricing agreement. Following negotiations with the company concerned, agreement has been reached on a revised price which will come into effect in March. In the meantime, people with a medical card who are experiencing financial difficulty in obtaining this medicine should contact the local office of the Health Service Executive.