Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. The Minister and I are committed to supporting our national population-based screening programmes. The programme for Government contains a commitment in respect of expanding the age range for BowelScreen to those aged 55 to 74 years. The HSE plans to commence screening of those aged 59 years this year, in addition to the current age range of 60- to 69-year-olds. A report published by National Cancer Registry Ireland, NCRI, in September 2022 shows the positive impact of the BowelScreen programme on cancer detection in Ireland and notes that the programme is effective in detecting cancers earlier and saving lives.

With our population living longer lives than ever, many of us will undergo one of these procedures at some point. For the investigation to be most effective, the bowel must be as clean as possible. To achieve this, patients are prescribed medicines to help cleanse the area prior to the procedure. The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The HSE's decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE.

In line with the 2013 Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications that have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA. The Deputy kindly clarified his question with examples of two products, namely, Picolax and Klean-Prep. In accordance with the 2013 Act, the companies marketing these medicines must submit applications to the HSE to be added to the formal reimbursement list. As they are not on the reimbursement list, they cannot be reimbursed under the community drug schemes.

Aside from HSE reimbursement, individuals may be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses. This is at the standard rate of 20% and includes medicines prescribed by a doctor. People may also be entitled to an additional needs payment from the Department of Social Protection. This payment is awarded on the basis of means-tested based on a person’s weekly income. Its purpose is to meet essential costs that a person would otherwise be unable to afford. If these products are to become eligible for reimbursement, the companies marketing them must be encouraged to engage with the pricing and reimbursement process in Ireland.

The script I have been provided with in response to the detail of the question submitted by the Deputy clearly indicates that a company must submit an application in order to be part of the list. There is a need in this regard. We have a bowel screening programme in place. It is fairly clear that a problem like this could be addressed in a timely fashion.

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