David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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700. To ask the Minister for Health when the current round of discussions on the new supply and pricing of medicines agreement will conclude; when he expects to have a replacement agreement in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36213/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Since the 1970’s, pricing mechanisms and supply arrangements for medicines in Ireland have been determined by the terms of agreements between the State and the respective representative bodies of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland. The most recent agreement was the Framework Agreement on the Supply of Medicines to the Health Services 2016-2020. This was due to end in July 2020, however due to COVID-19 it was necessary to seek an extension.

The Department of Health and the HSE entered into negotiations with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) in July 2020, agreeing an extension on the terms of the existing 2016-2020 agreement for a period of 6 months, to 31^stJanuary 2021. 

The Department and the HSE are considering the approach to discussions on a successor agreement.