John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Health the action he is taking to make savings on the drugs budget by increasing the use of biosimilar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50801/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department and the HSE are engaging in a number of initiatives which will endeavour to lead to better access to medicines for patients, value for the taxpayer and the cost- effective provision of medicines in Ireland.

A public consultation on a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy was undertaken by the Department of Health in Q4 2017. The responses to the consultation and other possible policy levers are being considered by the Department with a view to developing a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy, which will require the involvement of stakeholders across the health service.

At an operational level, the HSE's Acute Hospitals Drugs Management Programme has a biosimilar strategy in place since 2017 which is making considerable progress using a collaborative approach led by hospital pharmacists with clinical teams to bring about changes in prescribing practice.