Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Health when work on the establishment of the national medicines agency is due to commence as committed to in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34113/20]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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150. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the design of the national medicines agency as committed to in the programme for Government; the person or body that will be tasked with establishing and running it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34114/20]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Health the remit and function of the national medicines agency as committed to in the programme for Government; the way in which this will be distinct from existing agencies such as the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics and the medicines management programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34115/20]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which the national medicines agency, as committed to in the programme for Government, will engage with key stakeholders such as patient groups and the pharmaceutical industry to improve access to medicines for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34116/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 152, inclusive, together.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a National Medicines Agency, promoting national prescribing to reduce the cost of medicines, including via generic prescription, where appropriate, and to set a fair price for drug reimbursement.

The establishment of a National Medicines Agency would require a significant body of work to be undertaken, to map out an integrated pharmaceutical policy function for the Agency and to consider the resources necessary for its establishment.

That work has yet to commence, with the priority and focus on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.