Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1190: To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in reimbursement of vital medicines, such as Gilenya for MS, under the high tech drug scheme; the likely timescale of decisions in view of the urgent medical needs that exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17635/12]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1191: To ask the Minister for Health the current waiting times for reimbursement of medicines under the high tech drug scheme; the reasons for the delay in reimbursement; the likely timescale of decisions; if measures will be implemented to resolve the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17636/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The HSE is currently considering applications for a number of products to be reimbursed under the community drugs schemes and the availability of resources to fund these new products.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1192: To ask the Minister for Health regarding the high tech drug scheme, if he will provide details of the medicines available under the scheme and for each of the last five years the number of items dispensed; the costs involved and the amount paid to wholesalers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17637/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Arrangements are in place for the supply of high tech medicines through community pharmacies. Such medicines are generally only prescribed or initiated in hospital and would include items such as anti-rejection drugs for transplant patients or medicines used in conjunction with chemotherapy or growth hormones. High tech medicines are purchased directly from wholesalers/suppliers by the HSE and supplied through community pharmacies for which pharmacists are paid a patient care fee. Detailed information on the medicines supplied, prescribing frequencies and ingredient costs are published each year in the Primary Care Reimbursement Service's Statistical Analysis of Claims and Payments which is available to download on the HSE's website.

In 2011 the Minister for Health reduced the wholesale mark-up paid on high tech medicines and reduced the patient care fee payable to pharmacists for months when no medicines is dispensed by 50%. The following table sets out the number of high tech medicines dispensed, the cost of high tech medicines and the patient care fees paid each year from 2006 to 2010.