Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My question is on promised legislation for health. The programme for Government commits to improving the health care service for all, including to access to services and reductions in the cost of medicines for those with long-term illnesses. Why, then, has it taken the HSE so long to approve the Abbott FreeStyle Libre for inclusion in the long-term illness, LTI, scheme for people with type 1 diabetes?

Abbott submitted an application for its inclusion in the long-term illness scheme in early January 2017 and received acknowledgement from the HSE, which stated it would be considered in line with the Act of 2013. The application was to be assessed for listing under reimbursable items for people with diabetes aged four and above, which is critical, who intensively use insulin, namely, those requiring multiple daily injections of insulin. It has been almost a year now, with very little communication from the HSE. The diabetes community is understandably frustrated with the delay. Can the Minister indicate when a decision might be made and when this game changer for diabetes management will be included in the LTI scheme?

See this speech in context