Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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179. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the ESRI report, Delivery of Pharmaceuticals in Ireland - Getting a Bigger Bang for the Buck, published in January 2012, stated that prices of new pharmaceuticals, subject to patent protection, could be reduced further by setting the ex-factory price with reference to the lowest-priced comparator member state and that an examination of data from recent years suggests prices would decline by 20% to 25% if such an approach were adopted, to quantify the savings which could be made by introducing this measure with immediate effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30463/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Health if he will quantify the full-year savings from sourcing the 20 most expensive and 20 most common on-patent pharmaceuticals from another member state parallel import, that State being where the cost of the drug is the lowest in Europe. [30465/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Most drugs and medicines which are paid for by the HSE are supplied to patients through over 1,800 community pharmacies who, in turn, purchase them from wholesalers or, to a lesser extent, directly from drug manufacturers. The current pharmacy based model results in over 70 million items being dispensed annually through local pharmacies across the State, including low population centres in rural areas. It enables pharmacies to receive deliveries each day from multiple wholesalers ensuring that all patients have continued access to essential medicines without delay. Under this model, as the drugs are purchased by individual pharmacies with no direct input by the HSE, there is no scope for the type of central procurement arrangement envisaged by the Deputy.