David Cullinane
Ceist:514. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of a 10% uplift in spending on new medicines. [48663/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 25 June 2026
Ceisteanna (514)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government recognises the importance of timely access to new medicines.
Supported by 158 million euros of funding in Budgets 2021-2025, the State has delivered access to 250 new medicines. 101 of these were for cancer and 70 of these were for rare diseases.
Budget 2026 allocated 217 million euro of additional investment in medicines, including 30 million euro for new medicines. This has, as of 15th of June 2026, delivered access to 26 new medicines, including 9 for cancer and 5 for rare diseases.
The Year 1 cost of a new drug comes from the allocation for new medicines, but it should be noted that once these medicines are approved for reimbursement the full cost of providing them can reach multiples of this initial cost as their uptake increases.
There are many challenges when estimating medicines costings as future expenditure depends on an unforeseen number of factors, including, but not limited to:
• the volume and type of new medicines approved,
• the size of eligible patient populations,
• clinical indications,
• treatment duration and
• the outcome of pricing and reimbursement negotiations.
Funding allocations for new medicines are made in the context of the annual Budget.