Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government gives a strong commitment to drive down the costs of providing new drug treatments. The Minister for Health will be aware of the case of Mr. John Holmes from Kilkenny, who has a very rare form of cancer. One of the country's foremost experts, Professor John Crown, has recommended that he be treated with Pembrolizumab. The John Needs Pembro fundraising group and the local community have been doing sterling work in attempting to raise funds to pay for the 30 infusions of the medicine, at a cost of €5,111 for each treatment. They need help. The Government must assist Mr. Homes in accessing this treatment. I request that the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, meet the Holmes family as urgently as possible to assist in the case. I also request that he take immediate steps to reduce the unaffordable price of the drug by removing the cost of VAT on it. The Government must take steps to assist this man, who has been in a fight for his life for the better part of a decade. The treatment is effective and the drug is already approved for cancer. Since the man in question has a rare cancer, it is not recognised. If it were recognised, he could be treated, at cost. There is a life at stake here.

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