The total cost of the High Tech Drug Scheme, for the years in question, is as follows: 2009 - €331.29 million; 2010 - €360.40 million; 2011 - €368.18 million; 2012 - €396.32 million.
High Tech Medicines are generally only prescribed or initiated by Consultants in hospitals. They include anti-rejection drugs for transplant patients and medicines used in conjunction with chemotherapy. Approximately 30% of the expenditure is for rheumatology products. A further 10% is spent on treatments for multiple sclerosis. They are among the most innovative products added to schemes each year. A number of steps have been have been taken to reduce costs in recent years. In particular, the wholesale mark-up was reduced from 17.66% to 10% in 2009 and to 8% in 2011 by regulations under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009.
The HSE's National Service Plan has just been finalised for 2013. The HSE is now working with the relevant programme directors to profile their budgets appropriately. It is not possible at this stage to provide details of how individual savings measures will be profiled across 2013. However, I can assure the House that there will be no reduction in the availability of High Tech Drugs to patients who require them.
