Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

The HSE has no role in determining the threshold. It is the role of the NCPE to consider a number of aspects with regard to how new drugs are to be assessed. I want to make it absolutely clear that there was no reduction in the threshold. I was in touch with the unit today and confirmed that since 2009 cost benefit analyses had been done on two levels, €45,000 per quality-adjusted life year, QALY, and €20,000 per QALY. It is absolutely legitimate that new drugs are assessed on this basis and that has been the practice since 2009. There has been no change in this regard.

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