James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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420. To ask the Minister for Health the number of times he has met with pharmaceutical companies in a dialogue on access to new medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48000/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am keen to engage with industry and to explore ways in which new medicines might be more easily introduced in Ireland.  However, any innovative approaches that may be tabled must be compatible with the statutory provisions which are in place and must also recognise the context of finite Exchequer resources.   

A recent bi-annual meeting was held between the Department of Health and the Irish Healthcare Pharmaceutical Association and this proposed dialogue was discussed.  It is envisioned that this will take the form of a structured platform of engagement, building a stronger partnership between the State and industry to create better patient access to new treatments.

In November 2015, an Open Policy Forum in relation to access to new medicines took place between the Department of Health, the Department of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and the Irish Healthcare Pharmaceutical Association.