Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

This is not the first time I have raised this issue. In fact, I have been raising it for more than two years now, during which time many people have had to suffer unnecessary and avoidable difficulties in pregnancies because of hyperemesis gravidarum.

It is not just difficulties, which is such a light word to use when it comes to what hyperemesis can do to people who are pregnant. I have spoken to pregnant women who have said that it leaves them vomiting hundreds of times a day. They vomit so much and so hard that they burst blood vessels in their eyes. They rip their oesophagi. Some of them suffer and have to terminate much-wanted pregnancies because they do not believe they can go through the whole pregnancy without support. Some also consider and contemplate suicide. It is an incredibly difficult condition to have to go through. There is relief. Relief can be found in medications such as Cariban. I recognise that inroads have been made on the side of the Government and that Cariban was made available under the drugs payment scheme in the new year. This was very much welcomed at the time but the system that has been put in place by the HSE means, essentially, that it is impossible for the majority of women to access this drug through the scheme. Rather than just getting it from their GP, which is what would happen if they were paying directly and privately, they must have a consultant sign off on the first prescription. For the majority of women they will not see the consultant for the first 14 or 15 weeks of pregnancy, by which time if they are suffering from hyperemesis, they are in dire straits.

When I raised this previously with the Minister for Health, he told me a number of things, one being that because this is an unlicensed medication the HSE cannot include it under the drugs payment scheme to be prescribed in the first instance by a GP. I have spoken to GPs, and there are many, many drugs that are unlicensed but have been given a drug code, which makes them notified medications. A GP can, therefore, prescribe them. There are a number of them, including the antibiotic Chloramphenicol, Scopoderm and a melatonin medication for children called Kidnaps. These are all unlicensed products but they can be prescribed by a GP. We ask that the HSE applies the same conditions as those other notified medications, and assists women to get this medication when it is needed.

The Minister also said that the HSE was going to review the policy and the process. That was two months ago. Will the Minister of State please bring some sense of urgency to this? On a daily basis women are suffering badly with this condition. It is completely unnecessary. Will the Minister of State give the House an update on that review? If it is not finalised, when does he anticipate it will be? It is important that this be communicated. I have asked that the Minister to meet with Hyperemesis Ireland, which he said he would do once the review was conducted. I ask that he would at least reply to their emails. I know that they have been in contact with him.

I really hope that the Minister of State has a good news update for me today, that he will be able to tell me the HSE has conducted the review and this medication for hyperemesis sufferers will be made available from GPs and under the drugs payment scheme as soon as possible.

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