Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In Ireland cancer remains one of the leading causes of death. Timely access to new and effective treatments is crucial for improving the survival rates and the quality of life for patients. However, delay in accessing these treatments has become a significant issue, adversely impacting patients' health and survival rates. Currently the approval process for cancer drugs in Ireland involves prolonged assessments by bodies such as the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.

Yet, this is after these drugs have already been evaluated for both safety and effectiveness by the European Medicines Agency. As a result, these lengthy and complex approval processes lead to significant delays. According to IDA Ireland, this country is the third largest net exporter of pharmaceuticals in the world. However, it is one of the slowest countries in Europe to make these innovative medicines available to Irish patients. The wait in Ireland for new cancer drugs is, on average, 673 days post authorisation by the European Medicines Agency. That is 22 months. In contrast, other EU countries can make these medicines available to patients in as few as 102 days while still managing budgets and conducting value-for-money assessments. It is important to note that it is only public patients who are left waiting for two years or longer for access to these new medicines. This widens the divide in Ireland's two-tier health system because patients with health insurance can have immediate access to many of these drugs once they are approved by the European Medicines Agency.

If we are serious about delivering on Sláintecare and ensuring that patients receive treatment based on their medical needs, we must raise the access public patients have to lifesaving drugs to the accessibility standard of patients with private health insurance. At least in part, these delays are due to inadequate staffing, resulting in files sitting on desks awaiting assessments, or what is known as “processing dead time”. Tragically, there could not be a more apt phrase because, in reality, these delays mean that patients, particularly those with aggressive or advanced cancers, may not receive potentially lifesaving drugs in time. Consequently, their chances of survival diminish, and their quality of life deteriorates. By addressing these unacceptable delays, we can ensure that patients receive the timely and effective treatment they deserve, improving their chances of survival and quality of life.

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