Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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153. To ask the Minister for Health the status of a review (details supplied) into the medicines access programme as outlined in the Sláintecare Action Plan; when it will be published; the actions that will arise from its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34117/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In 2019, following a tender by the Office of Government Procurement, Mazars conducted a review of the governance structures around the HSE's drug reimbursement process. The report was submitted to my Department in January 2020.

The review made recommendations in respect of the HSE’s systems, structures, processes, governance arrangements and use of specialist resources in respect of the drug reimbursement process.

The report was under consideration by officials earlier this year, however the focus of the Department of Health changed to the immediate public health considerations of the COVID-19 pandemic and the preservation of life. This meant that this work stream was temporarily suspended to reallocate resources to support essential services.

My Department aims to complete its consideration of the report’s recommendations in the near future.