273. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health whether consideration will be given, as part of the ongoing review of medicines reimbursement, to strengthen and formalise the role of the Rare Disease Technology Review Committee; whether she will consider ensuring its early, consistent and structured involvement alongside the health technology assessment process in order to improve timely access to orphan medicines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48037/26]

The State has successfully negotiated new Framework Agreements on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines with Medicines for Ireland (MFI) and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA).

These Agreements provide commitments and a structured process towards achieving a 180-day timeline, for completing health technology assessments (HTA) and reimbursement decisions by Q1 2029.

This structured process will be implemented over the lifetime of the Agreements and will involve, starting this year, a strategic end-to-end review of the pricing and reimbursement system its functioning. Along with other measures outlined in the Agreements, implementation of recommendations arising from the end-to-end review will enable faster access to medicines for patients in Ireland.

The review will consider every stage of the pricing and reimbursement process, including the process functions carried out by the Rare Disease Technology Review Committee (RDTRC).