Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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1101. To ask the Minister for Health the amount that has been spent in each year between 2008 and 2015 by the health services on biosimilar medicines; the proportion of each year’s total spend that this comprises; the measures that will be implemented to increase the use of biosimilars; if he will consider implementing a specific policy to increase the use of biosimilars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32022/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The use of biotechnology in the pharmaceutical field has led to the development of many new biological medicines, offering new treatments for a range of serious illnesses.

The manufacturing of a biological medicine is a complex process. Biosimilar medicines are similar but not identical to their reference biological medicines, and therefore are not considered in the same way as generic medicines. Under the Heath (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, biosimilars are not considered to be interchangeable, and therefore cannot be substituted for biological medicines.

It is likely that the use of biosimilar medicines will grow in Ireland in the coming years as the patents on biological medicines expire. However, promoting the increased use of biosimilar medicines must be carefully considered, and issues such as prescribing practices around biosimilars are currently under consideration by the Department.

Biosimilar medicines are not currently categorised as such on HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service databases; therefore it is not possible, without the allocation of significant resources, to collate the amount spent on biosimilar medicines in each of the years from 2008 to 2015.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1102. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of total spending on health including public spending, private health insurance and out-of-pocket charges in the most recent year for which these figures are available. [32024/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The most recent year for which public health expenditure data is available is 2014. In 2014, public non-capital expenditure on health was €13,276 million, including Treatment Benefits funded by the Department of Social Protection. Capital expenditure amounted to €386 million.

The most recent year for which private health expenditure is available is 2012. Private health expenditure, as provided by the Central Statistics Office, was €4,718 million. A more detailed breakdown of private health expenditure is not available.