Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2014
301. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in detail the measures that will be introduced to achieve projected savings of €95 million from the annual drugs budget as outlined in the Health Service Executive national service plan for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46823/14]
View answer302. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when talks to renegotiate existing pricing agreements with the representatives of the Irish pharmaceutical industry will commence in 2015; if his Department has set a date for the conclusion of these negotiations; the top line priority outcomes of his Department from these negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46824/14]
View answer303. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the €95 million in projected savings outlined in the Health Service Executive national service plan published on 27 November 2014 include savings to be realised as part of revised agreements on drug pricing to be agreed during 2015 with representatives of the Irish pharmaceutical industry; if so, the amount of savings envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46825/14]
View answer304. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department plans to introduce to improve the procurement of medicines in order to realise savings in the drugs budget as outlined in the Health Service Executive national service plan for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46826/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 301 to 304, inclusive, together.
The Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2015 provides for savings of €95m to be achieved from a range of initiatives including general procurement, drug costs and the continued application of reference pricing. The exact measures to achieve this saving target are still under consideration.
The 2012 Agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) provided for a mid-term review in 2014 and this is currently underway. As the outcome of this review is dependent on negotiations with IPHA it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.
The 2012 Agreement is a three year agreement and will remain in place until 1 November 2015. Any successor agreement will require the cooperation of the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive and IPHA. This will be considered further early next year.
