Written Answers Nos. 192-198
195. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans to put in place a scheme for long-term-chronic illness that will give a person automatic entitlement to a medical card (details supplied). [17145/14]
View answerI announced in Budget 2014 my intention to instigate a reform of the appeal system for tax matters, including a reform of the role, functions and structure of the Office of the Appeal Commissioners. The appeal system has been under consideration over a number of years. There have been proposals for changes to the appeals system from representative bodies, and a number of reports have made recommendations on this area in that time. Accordingly, it is timely to proceed with this reform process which will ensure the continued provision of a cost effective appeal mechanism for tax cases, providing transparency and increased certainty for taxpayers.
A public consultation opened for submissions on the Appeal process on 16 October 2013, and closed on 16 January 2014. 11 submissions were received, and the proposals and observations contained in them are being carefully assessed. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that work is underway within my Department on this matter, and is progressing well. Reforms introduced on foot of the process currently underway will be aimed at ensuring that the appeals process operates on the basis of best practice.
The Appeal Commissioners are independent in carrying out their functions and have an important role to play in the operation of a fair and efficient taxation system. I wish to acknowledge the important contribution of the current Appeal Commissioners in the work they perform in this regard.
196. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the number of hospitals that operate mixed gender wards; if he has a view on use of such wards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17148/14]
View answerThe HSE has confirmed that it is not their practice to mix male and female patients in in-patient wards. However, while the situation is avoided where possible, all hospitals must optimise the availability and occupancy of all bed spaces. As a result, there are extenuating circumstances where mixed wards can occur in Emergency Departments, Acute Medical Assessment Units, Intensive Care Units and Coronary Care Units. In these situations best practices are in place to protect the privacy and dignity of patients. The ongoing improvements in ward accommodation and increase in single room accommodation aims to provide appropriate accommodation for all patients.
The HSE intends that all newly built acute hospital in-patient accommodation at new hospital builds, major additions to existing hospitals or major renovations to existing hospital in-patient accommodation areas should be made up entirely of single patient rooms and that all newly built non-acute hospital in-patient accommodation, when included within an acute hospital setting, should be made up of a minimum of 50% single patient rooms.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
197. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total amounts spent on medicines by his Department and the Health Service Executive in each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, and the projected spend in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17149/14]
View answerThe cost to the HSE of drugs and medicines supplied under the GMS, Drug Payment and Long Term Illness schemes between 2011 and 2013 and the projected cost for 2014 are set out as follows:
|
2014 |
€ 1.56 billion (projected) |
|
2013 |
€ 1.61 billion |
|
2012 |
€1.55 billion |
|
2011 |
€1.46 billion |
198. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the savings in the medicines budget realised by his Department in each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively; the projected savings in 2014 as result of agreements negotiated with the pharmaceutical industry, both branded and generic manufactures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17150/14]
View answerThere has been ongoing engagement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) and the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Ireland (APMI), the representative bodies for the proprietary and generic manufacturers respectively, in recent years which have achieved significant reductions in the prices paid for medicinal products by the State. Agreements concluded with IPHA and APMI in 2006 generated total savings in the region of €250 million. Agreements on further price reductions implemented between 2010 and 2011 generated in the region of a further €250 million in savings.
In June 2012, an interim agreement with the IPHA delivered further price reductions to the prices of certain off-patent medicines which generated approximately €16 million in 2012.
In October 2012, a major new deal on the cost of originator drugs was concluded with the IPHA which will deliver a number of important benefits, including, significant reductions for patients in the cost of drugs, a lowering of the drugs bill to the State, timely access for patients to new cutting-edge drugs for certain conditions, and reducing the cost base of the health system into the future. The gross savings arising from this deal will be in excess of €400 million over 3 years. €210 million from the gross savings will be available to fund new drugs.
A new agreement was also reached with the APMI in October 2012. Since 1 November 2012, the maximum price the HSE pays for generic products is 50% of the initial price of an originator medicine. Recent negotiations with the APMI have resulted in agreement on additional price reductions and, from 1 May 2014, the maximum price the HSE will pay will be 40% of the initial price of an originator medicine. This will result in the price differential between off-patent drugs and most generic equivalents increasing from 5% currently to approximately 20%.
The combined gross savings from the IPHA and the APMI agreements were in excess of €120 million in 2013 with an additional €28 million saved in 2014.
