Dáil debates

Tuesday, 14 May 2019

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Medicinal Products Availability

6:40 pm

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

John Holmes began to have investigations into his health in 2010 when it was established that he had cancer. From 2010 to today, he has been battling cancer. He has had chemotherapy and he has had various invasive surgeries. Professor John Crown has recommended that he undergo an aggressive form of chemotherapy. That has all happened and now it is being recommended that he be treated with pembrolizumab. The local community and John have been out begging for funds to fund the 30 infusions of pembrolizumab he needs at a cost of €5,111 each. Nobody can afford this. This man will die if he does not receive the treatment needed to give him an extension of his time. The Government can provide the answer by assisting Mr. Holmes in accessing the pembrolizumab.

I have asked the Minister to meet the family and to meet John Holmes. We tabled this matter in the belief that the Minister would come to the House and provide an answer. It is a sad reflection on the Government that the Minister is not here to answer the question being put to him by Deputy Funchion and me. That is a disgraceful way to treat the family. I ask that the Minister of State request an immediate meeting between John Holmes and the Minister, that he take immediate steps to remove VAT from this drug and that he ensure that the drug is made available to John, who has a unique type of cancer and who requires this drug immediately.

I have asked the Minister to meet the family and to meet John Holmes. We tabled this matter in the belief that the Minister would come to the House and provide an answer. It is a sad reflection on the Government that the Minister is not in here answering the queries that are being put to him by Deputy Funchion and me. That is a disgraceful way to treat the family. I ask that the Minister of State request an immediate meeting between John Holmes and the Minister, that he take immediate steps to remove VAT from this drug and that he ene sure that the drug is made available to John, who has a unique type of cancer where he requires this drug immediately.

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