Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Page 64 of the programme for Government contains specific proposals about new medicines and treatments and looking at opportunities to leverage purchasing power, either through national or European initiatives.

In that context, there are now 61 patients with the very serious and rare lung and respiratory diagnosis, alpha-1, and they will be unable to access Respreeza. Some 21 of these patients are in receipt of this drug since 2010, and more want to avail of it. The company that manufactures this drug has said it will stop giving it to patients as and from 31 May. The system of licensing and recovering the costs of new drugs is in deep trouble. There are other examples coming down the track. It is time for the Government to devise a proper, hypothecated fund outside of the current budget to deal with these issues, in particular Respreeza and alpha-1. Excellent research into this has been carried out in this country, by Gerry McElvaney and others in Beaumont, over a long period of time. It is extraordinary that people are now going to be deprived of this medicine.

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