Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which use of the single European market can be identified as a means of alleviating the impact of persons faced with the high cost of experimental drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28592/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Each EU member state is responsible for the procurement of its own medicinal products. However, our membership of the single market offers an opportunity for international cooperation with other member countries to try and reduce the cost of new drugs. The challenge of securing affordable access to innovate medicines is not unique to Ireland and we have been engaging with other EU countries in an effort to identify solutions.

Ireland joined the BeNeLuxA Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy on 22 June 2018. This Agreement is in line with my objective to work with other European countries to identify workable solutions, in an increasingly challenging environment, to secure timely access for patients to new medicines in an affordable and sustainable way.

In addition to BeNeLuxA, Ireland is participating in a number of other voluntary EU forums, including the Roundtable meetings with EU Health Ministers and the Pharmaceutical Industry, High Level Pharmaceutical Policy Meetings and the Valletta Technical Committee.  These platforms are currently exploring possible areas for cooperation including information sharing, horizon scanning and possible price negotiations and joint procurement. Such platforms could also lead to faster access for patients for some treatments.