Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Health the measures introduced in 2015 to reduce the cost of medicines to patients and the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42183/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The continued implementation of generic substitution and reference pricing in 2015 is contributing to reducing the cost of medicines. Reference pricing is expected to deliver approximately €25 million in savings in 2015, on top of €47 million in savings in 2014, and its implementation ensures that generic drug prices in Ireland will continue to fall towards European norms.

With regard to patented medicines, the most recent Agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), which represents proprietary drug manufacturers, was due to expire at the end of October 2015. My Department is working with 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 furtherance of this, initial discussions have taken place with IPHA regarding a potential new Agreement, with detailed engagement expected to begin in early 2016. In the meantime, the 2012 Agreement remains in place.