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

There was a time when we were far more ahead of the curve in approving new technologies and treatments. We have fallen well behind in recent years. These approvals often get caught up in the system. This does not happen because of cost grounds initially. There is a suspicion that this might be the underlying reason, but it is never stated. There is significant evidence here. Why are Ireland and Portugal the only EU countries that do not approve nivo on its own? The combination of ipi and nivo is captivating cancer researchers around the world, particularly those involved in skin cancer research. The US Food and Drug Administration approved this combination in 2015 under an accelerated approval programme because the results showed rapid and deep regressions of patient tumours. These dramatic results captivated doctors and patients alike. People in Ireland need this treatment at the moment. Medical oncologists have told me that people in Ireland who have the resources to do so are paying €4,000 or €5,000 for this treatment. People who do not have such resources are considering whether they should sell their houses or take other steps to get access to the ipi-nivo combination. This is a real issue. Approximately 50% of the 150 people in this country who are diagnosed with advanced melanoma each year would be eligible for this treatment. This should be doable. In my view, something is not right somewhere in our system. We are way behind the curve when compared with other countries that are well advanced in approving radical breakthrough treatments for forms of cancer that were not treatable in the past.

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