Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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677. To ask the Minister for Health if price reductions have been agreed with producers for generic drugs; if he has legislative powers to impose reductions on the price paid for generic medicines; and if so, his plans to exercise same. [27006/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Health, I do not have legislative power to impose reductions on the price of any medicine. However, the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 conferred powers on the HSE to set maximum reimbursement prices for medicines.

The 2013 Act also provided for the introduction of a system of generic substitution and reference pricing for generic and branded medicines that are deemed interchangeable. Under the Act the HSE may set a reference or maximum price for the reimbursement of each group of interchangeable products. 50 substances were identified for inclusion in the interchangeable lists and 47 have been included to date. I have recently requested that the Health Products Regulatory Authority review an additional 15 substances for inclusion on the lists.

The reference pricing project delivered €47m in savings in 2014 and €94m in savings in 2015 and continues as an ongoing essential programme of work that will deliver further savings in the years ahead. The pricing of generic drugs will continue to be reviewed and progressed under this process.