Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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559. To ask the Minister for Health the number of doses of the anti-Covid-19 drug remdesivir that have been stockpiled through the EU agreement with a pharmaceutical firm (details supplied); his plans to administer same; the cost of the stockpiling to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41150/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has not been involved in, or party to any stockpiling arrangements in relation to Remdesivir. We have however been a participant in the European Joint Procurement Exercise Framework Contract through the European Commission for Remdesivir.  National guidance has been in place since March 2020 on the use of Remdesivir in Irish hospitals.  The HSE monitor hospital demand for the drug based on admissions and predicted clinical need, and purchase stock as required. Supply is, and has been, adequate to meet demand and there is no requirement to stockpile.

Ireland continues to support the WHO Solidarity Trial, an international clinical trial to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19, launched by the World Health Organization and partners.