Dáil debates

Thursday, 11 April 2019

Treatment of Cancer (Advertisements) Bill 2018: Second Stage

 

4:40 pm

Photo of Maureen O'SullivanMaureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the extent of work that goes into a Private Members' Bill, for the Member, the Member's staff and also for the Oireachtas staff. With the advances made in cancer treatment, cancer is not the death sentence that it once was. We see a range of treatments and medicines. I know from the experience of family and friends that they are discovering that if they have a cancer, if plan A does not work, there will be a plan B, and if plan B does not work, there will be a plan C. Certain friends of mine are great believers in the complementary therapies and how well they work alongside medicine. We have to respect the decision of a patient and cancer-sufferer if he or she decides that he or she does not want to go for medical treatment and wants to try something complementary. I understand that people who are ill are prepared to try any treatment and take up any suggestion in the hope of a cure. We know that exploitation of very vulnerable people is taking place and that is appalling. To have advertising for a product claiming a health benefit with no proof of that is damaging, especially if it impacts on a patient's already fragile health.

Looking at the overall picture, while I know that this Bill is pursuing one specific aim, it is important that other points are made. I would not share the confidence that the pharmaceutical industry always has a social conscience. It is a profit-making industry and that is what it does. It is appalling to see the prices that it is coming up with. I have been involved with groups such as Access to Medicines Ireland. It beggars belief that the industry can seek a certain amount for a medicine that it knows will save lives and barters and bargains. I think it has a responsibility to be more proactive on this. Having said that, there are delays which have to be taken into account too. Data were recently released by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations regarding the availability of new cancer medicines in Ireland compared to the rest of Europe. I suggest that, with that delay, there is a vacuum where people will try anything else. They will try whatever suggestion is made to them.

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