‘Mini’ budget would pay for lifesaving drugs, say Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil will create a “mini-budget” funded via “top-slicing” from all departments to pay for expensive medical drugs currently unavailable to patients, if elected to power.

The opposition party’s leader, Micheál Martin, made the commitment after recent controversies about high-profile drugs for cystic fibrosis (and other conditions), which the HSE cannot afford — even though they radically improve a person’s chances of survival.

Mr Martin said a government should not “play the gatekeeper” and say “we’re going to let that person over there say that person can’t live another 10 years”. He said that system was wrong and failing people in need.