Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent annually on cancer drugs; the amount spent in hospitals; the amount spent in demand led drug schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23556/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has begun to capture the hospital-based expenditure on the top eleven oncology (cancer) drugs as part of a plan to centralise the oncology drug budget. These eleven drugs comprise approximately 80% of oncology drug expenditure. It estimates that a total of €60million was spent on these eleven drugs during 2011. These figures are currently being verified and updated for 2012.

The NCCP in conjunction with the PCRS is progressing an initiative to transfer hospital cancer drug expenditure to the PCRS. This will see the development of a national oncology ICT system which will enable the NCCP and Primary Care Reimbursement Service to monitor utilisation by patient and maintain an oversight of expenditure of these drugs. This programme is expected to be rolled out by the end of the year.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Health when he intends to introduce legislation on reference pricing for interchangeable medicines; the amount he intends to save as a result of the move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23557/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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In September 2011 the Government gave approval for the drafting of a Bill to provide for the designation and substitution of interchangeable medicines and the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. Drafting of this Bill, entitled the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Bill, is well advanced and is scheduled for publication shortly.

The potential savings arising from using generic drugs instead of proprietary drugs, where there is an equivalent generic product available, is dependent on a number of factors, in particular, the price differential between the proprietary drugs and the equivalent generic drugs.Therefore, it is not possible to provide an answer in relation to potential savings.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Health if savings have been made since the start of the year in securing price reductions in patent protected drugs; the level of savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23558/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Officials from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive are in ongoing contact with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association regarding a new pricing agreement for originator drugs. The previous agreement expired on 1st March 2012 with an understanding that the existing arrangements would apply until such time as a new agreement is reached.

The position of the Department and the Health Service Executive is that financial space needs to be created within the current drug spend to facilitate the cost of the new and innovative drugs awaiting reimbursement approval. To this end the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive are seeking reductions in the price of drugs currently on the reimbursement list.

In recent years the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive have secured substantial reductions in the prices of drugs and medicines. The 2006 Agreement with IPHA has secured around €300m in savings with additional savings of €80m agreed in 2010 and €140m in 2011.