Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1098. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to support and-or co-sponsor a resolution (details supplied) aimed at improving the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines and other health-related technologies at the upcoming 72nd session of the World Health Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20033/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In March 2019, Italy presented a draft resolution on improving the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines and other health related technologies which will be discussed at the 72nd session of the WHA to be held on the 20-28 May 2019.

The draft resolution proposes a number of actions relating to pharmaceutical policy including that the World Health Organisation (WHO) would:

- support Member States in collecting, analysing and creating standards for information on prices, reimbursement costs, clinical trials outcome data and costs of relevant policy developments;

- create a web-based tool for governments to share information on medicines prices, revenues, R&D costs, public sector investments and subsidies;

- create a forum with suitable options for alternative incentive frameworks to patent monopolies for new medicines and vaccines that could better serve the need of Member States;

- Encourage further progress through meetings and forums on transparency.

My Department and I are currently reviewing the resolution and I will notify the Deputy of my position in due course.