Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated full-year saving if the State was to set the ex-factory price of new pharmaceuticals based on the lowest, as opposed to the average, price in the nine European Union member states that comprise the current basket, that is Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Austria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29526/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In 2012, the State entered into a new three-year price reduction Agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). Under this Agreement, prices are set by reference to the average of the approved prices across a basket of nine EU Member States. This Agreement remains in place until 31st October of this year.

As the end of the current Agreement approaches, consideration is being given to a range of options available to the State in seeking to deliver further savings on the cost of drugs. Such options include entering into a new Agreement with the IPHA, as well as the possibility of using the legislative powers afforded to the HSE under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 to review and alter prices.

An important objective in any new arrangement will be to secure significant savings on the projected cost of drugs, as well as continued access to cost-effective treatments. Since such savings may be the subject of negotiations with industry, I do not wish to place the State's detailed position or estimated savings into the public domain in advance.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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220. To ask the Minister for Health the estimated yearly saving if the State was to update the ex-factory price of new pharmaceuticals every six months, as compared to between one and three years at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29527/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In 2012, the State entered into a new three-year price reduction Agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). Under this Agreement, prices are set by reference to the average of the approved prices across a basket of nine EU Member States. This Agreement remains in place until 31st October of this year.

As the end of the current Agreement approaches, consideration is being given to a range of options available to the State in seeking to deliver further savings on the cost of drugs. Such options include entering into a new Agreement with the IPHA, as well as the possibility of using the legislative powers afforded to the HSE under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 to review and alter prices.

An important objective in any new arrangement will be to secure significant savings on the projected cost of drugs, as well as continued access to cost-effective treatments. Since such savings may be the subject of negotiations with industry, I do not wish to place the State's detailed position or estimated savings into the public domain in advance.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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221. To ask the Minister for Health if a pharmacist is currently able to dispense a pharmaceutical product which is interchangeable with that prescribed by a medical practitioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29528/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In recent years, the Government has introduced a series of reforms to reduce the prices of drugs and medicines which are paid for by the Health Service Executive. One of those key reforms has been the introduction of generic drug substitution and reference pricing, as provided for by The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

The Act permits pharmacists to substitute medicines prescribed, provided that they have been designated as safely interchangeable by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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222. To ask the Minister for Health if a pharmacist is currently obliged to inform patients of a pharmacist's dispensing fees, pharmacy services and mark-ups, through in-store displays using a standard template; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29529/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies in Ireland is the responsibility of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), an independent statutory body established by the Pharmacy Act 2007. The PSI works for the public interest to protect the health and safety of the public by regulating the pharmacy profession and pharmacies.

Pharmacists currently have no obligation to inform patients of dispensing fees, pharmacy services, and mark-ups through the use of in-store displays. However, the PSI considers that transparency in pricing for patients and members of the public is desirable in line with the statutory Code of Conduct for Pharmacists, which was introduced under the 2007 Act. To this end, the PSI Council requires pharmacists to follow several guiding principles relating to pricing transparency for prescription medicines.

These principles include providing price information in advance of dispensing medication where requested by a patient or a patient's representative, and providing the patient or patient's representative with an itemised receipt following the dispensing of medicines.