Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Health whether he has reviewed the policy proposals recently launched by the Healthcare Enterprise Alliance, which propose to save €130 million on the annual medicines budget, through a series of reform measures; if he and his Department support these proposals and will move to implement them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33682/15]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Health if the Healthcare Enterprise Alliance, with 15% of the Irish medicine market, will be included in the negotiations on medicines pricing, which are due to commence with the pharmaceutical sector next month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33683/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.

Officials in the Department of Health are working with their colleagues in the HSE, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement to ensure that the State achieves the best possible deal in terms of value for money regarding the pricing and supply of medicines.

In this context, I welcome the recent proposals made by the Healthcare Enterprise Alliance. However, it would not be appropriate or in the public interest to comment on the State's position in advance of any negotiations or discussions it may undertake with supplier representative organisations.

Preliminary discussions have taken place with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) regarding a possible successor agreement to the existing drugs pricing and supply Agreement between IPHA, the Department of Health, and the HSE. It is not envisaged that the HEA will be a party to this process.