1179. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department intends to review the current medicines reimbursement process following concerns raised during the consideration of skyclarys for patients with Friedreich's ataxia; and if lessons have been identified regarding the assessment of treatments for rare diseases. [64548/26]

Delivering timely access to medicines for patients is a priority for Government.

Two new Framework Agreements on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines (FASPM) between the State and Medicines for Ireland and the Irish Pharmaceutical Health Association respectively were signed on the 3rd of March for the period 2026-2029.

These Agreements include a commitment and a structured process towards achieving a 180-day timeline for reimbursement decisions by Q1 2029, accelerating patient access to new treatments. This structured process will be implemented over the lifetime of the Agreements and involves, among other measures, a strategic end-to-end review of the pricing and reimbursement system and its functioning, which is now underway.

The review will be comprehensive and strategic in nature, examining every stage of the Irish medicines pricing and reimbursement system/process and its functioning, including periods prior to application to the HSE and following reimbursement decision.

Along with the other measures outlined in the Framework Agreements, implementation of recommendations arising from the end-to-end review will contribute to enabling faster access to medicines for patients in Ireland.