Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

My opinion on when we will have an answer is irrelevant. What we need to do is ensure the drug is affordable for the State. It was withdrawn by the drug company involved. Fampridine was never available under the GMS or the drug refund scheme. It was both cruel and unfortunate for people who had obtained huge benefits from it when it was withdrawn. We are still looking at the question of whether it is affordable. That may sound cold and callous, but I do not mean it to come across in that way, as I understand the difference the drug has made to peoples' lives. We are doing our very best to ensure something that will benefit people will be available to them. However, there are cases where drugs are simply unaffordable. I understand this might appear to be a harsh decision, but we have not given up. We are still looking at the issue. I hope whatever decision is made, whether good or bad, will be relayed to patients as quickly as possible because it is equally cruel to leave them hanging on.

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