Medicinal Products Prices

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2016

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Ceisteanna (179)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

179. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the way in which the rebate scheme that forms part of the current medicine pricing agreement between his Department and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association will apply and be operated; the total revenues that his Department anticipates will be generated by these rebates over the lifetime of the agreement; the amounts expected to be raised each year of the agreement by this rebate scheme; the way in which these moneys will be collected; if he will publish the details of same at the end of each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35287/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The estimated value of the rebate, calculated under Clause 9 the Agreement, is €300 million. A copy of the Agreement is available at: http://health.gov.ie/blog/publications/framework-agreement-on-the-supply-and-pricing-of-medicines/.

The breakdown of the amounts expected to be raised each year are set out in the table below.

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4
Estimated Value of the Rebates*	€65m	€70m	€80m	€85m

*Rounded to the nearest €5m

My Department, in consultation with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, are currently monitoring the implementation of the Agreement and associated savings, and will give consideration to the publication of the savings achieved on a yearly basis.

The issues in relation to the application of the rebate and its collection across PCRS and hospitals has been referred to the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy, as this is an operational matter.