I propose to take Questions Nos. 308, 309 and 348 together.
The timely and sustainable access to medicines is a priority for Government. The Oireachtas put in place a robust legal framework, in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, to give full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on reimbursement of medicines, taking account of a range of objective factors and expert opinion as appropriate. By assessing medicines in this manner, we help ensure that the finite resources of our heath service are used most effectively.
The legislative underpinning of the 2013 Act is backed up by the Framework Agreement on the Supply of Medicines 2016-2020 between the State and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). This Agreement contains a number of measures intended to increase sustainable drug access and supply, including setting prices relative to those in other EU member states, reviewing prices to achieve better value for money and formal health technology assessment of new treatments to inform reimbursement decision making.
The Framework Agreement shall continue in force until 31 July 2020, unless continued by mutual agreement of the parties. My Department, the HSE and IPHA are in contact with each other, in the context of these specific provisions of the current Agreement and with a view to progressing the process of discussions on a successor agreement. My officials shall consider all relevant stakeholders as part of the preparatory work of a successor agreement.