Orkambi access
Deputy MacSharry pressed the Taoiseach and Health Minister on progress in securing Orkambi, saying contact with Vertex had stalled and that the issue was urgent for cystic fibrosis patients. The Taoiseach referred him to the Health Minister, who said the company’s position had improved, that a future health minister should not have to renegotiate such drugs, and that a resolution was expected within weeks.
This is relevant to pages 59 and 64 of the programme for Government. Deputy Micheál Martin raised the issue of Orkambi during Leaders' Questions. I raised it two weeks ago and again yesterday. The Taoiseach made fun of, giggled over and made comparisons with comments of a derogatory nature by other Deputies.
As of 15 minutes ago, the office of the Minister, the HSE or the Department of Health had not made contact with Vertex since 3 February 2017.
The Taoiseach was correct yesterday when he said the Minister had arranged a meeting with the people associated with the cystic fibrosis campaign on Monday. The essence of that meeting was that the Minister asked them to cancel today's protest. As we speak, those people are assembling outside of the building. The clear message is that they are not going to go away.
Despite waffle about protracted and detailed contractual negotiations, Vertex confirmed to me that the last contact it had was on 3 February. We are dealing with children's health and, in effect, their lives. The Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Harris, are both gentlemen outside the ring. It is time they manned up, told people the truth and had the decency to tell them what is going on.
Comment on this
I wonder what Deputy MacSharry would say to Vertex. If he has all the answers perhaps he could provide it with a solution to this problem. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Harris, to deal with the Deputy's specific query.
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With respect to the Taoiseach, in his wisdom he did not make me Minister for Health. If he had, we would not be waiting around for six months to get answers.
Comment on this
Perhaps Deputy MacSharry is jealous of his leader making some headway because he had accurate information during Leaders' Questions today. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Harris, to deal with Deputy MacSharry's specific query.
Comment on this
No contact has been made since February.
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I recognise Deputy MacSharry's genuine interest in this matter, but I would recommend that it is best that Deputies in his company are not passing on messages from Vertex. His interests are the same as mine in making the drug available.
Comment on this
The Minister does not seem to be talking to the company. Some of us have to.
Comment on this
It is the same information as that we received in response to a parliamentary question.
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The full and final offer that Vertex put on the table a number of months ago is now a hell of a lot better as a result of the efforts undertaken by the HSE and the people who have the legal power to negotiate. I am going to do something that the House has never done before, namely, make sure that whoever is the Minister for Health in the future does not find himself or herself sitting around another table to negotiate prices for the next cystic fibrosis drug. We need to future proof cystic fibrosis drugs for the next generation. It will take a few more weeks. We will get things done in the next few weeks and are in the final stages of commercial and contractual arrangements.
Comment on this
Will it be one week, two weeks or 52 weeks?