Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Health, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I am aware of the challenges people with asthma face in managing their condition and fully acknowledge the need for the provision of appropriate services for all asthma patients.

The treatment of asthma is one of the ten chronic diseases identified by the Health Service Executive as priorities for intervention. Clinically, the management of asthma through elective treatment is more effective than emergency treatment. The vision of the national asthma programme is that every person with asthma should reach their maximum health and quality of life potential through the prevention, early detection and effective treatment of his or her asthma. The key aims of the programme are to reduce asthma mortality by 90% in ten years; reduce general practitioner out-of-hours visits due to asthma by 10% or 5,000 over three years; reduce emergency department visits due to asthma by 10% or 2,000 over three years; and reduce asthma bed days by 10% per year over three years.

Each hospital or hospital group must make its own decisions regarding the provision of expensive or complex treatment. Xolair is a very expensive drug, costing on average between €12,000 and €15,000 per annum and is not a suitable treatment for all patients. Xolair treatment entails subcutaneous administration in an infusion centre. Treatment requires clinical supervision during and after administration, because of the possibility of adverse outcomes, as for many complex drugs, in a small percentage of cases. The south-south west hospital group supports the use of Xolair as part of the treatment pathway for appropriate patients with severe asthma. Treatment with Xolair has been provided within the group through the Mercy, Waterford and south Tipperary hospitals. Action plans in terms of direct patient treatment are being progressed in Cork University Hospital. The Minister for Health is committed to providing the best possible health service and will continue to work with the HSE to ensure the best possible outcomes are achieved for asthma patients.

There is no doubt that Xolair has a significant impact in the treatment of certain patients, depending on clinical circumstances and prognosis. However, not every hospital is in a position to meet the conditions attached to supervising use of the drug. I understand this issue is being addressed in Cork University Hospital. Given the size of the hospital, I hope some progress will be made in this regard in the near future.

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