Cork metro office and medicines
The Leader agreed the NTA should have opened a regional office for the Cork metropolitan strategy and said a debate could be held. He then responded to Devine on medicine prices, citing HSE spending and new medicines approved, before the record cuts off.
When the metropolitan strategy for Cork was launched last May, the NTA, despite being the driver of the project, refused to put a regional office in place. That is not good enough.
Comment on this
I will be happy to convene a debate on the matter with the Minister, Deputy Ross, at the earliest date. I remind Senator Conway that we will have statements on direct provision next week.
Senator Devine referred to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, report on the cost of and access to medicines. The price of drugs in Ireland is monitored as part of a basket of 14 countries of which we are one. The HSE spends €2 billion a year purchasing medicines and reimbursing costs. This year alone, 26 new medicines were sanctioned, in addition to the 30 that were approved last year. I heard Professor Michael Barry speaking about this matter on Sean O'Rourke's radio programme this morning. The cost of medicines is a source of continual complaint and concern for people. There has been a significant reduction in prices, with a range of drugs coming off patent and the introduction of generic medicines. I am happy to have a debate on the matter at the earliest opportunity.