Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I want to reassure Deputy McLoughlin and all patients that in so far as my Department has any role to play in terms of clarifying funding arrangements for drugs, it has discharged that in relation to nivolumab and eight other drugs in July. There is agreement between the HSE and my Department on the funding requirement for this and in that regard, the HSE has, in discharging its own legal responsibilities, now proceeded with the provision of nivolumab and eight other drugs and I expect that will be reimbursed in the coming weeks.

I cannot comment on individual cases for very obvious reasons, nor am I qualified to make decisions about individual patients' clinical needs. Obviously I send my best wishes to the constituent of Deputy McLoughlin and, indeed, any patient experiencing illness who wants to know about the availability of drugs.

There is an important point to be made in the context of the reference by the Deputy to private hospitals. The HSE provides drugs for the public health service. If a patient is in a private hospital or, indeed, with a private insurance company, it is a matter for the individual private hospital or insurance company to engage directly with drug manufacturers in the best interests of its customers and there is no need whatsoever for it to wait for the HSE reimbursement to have those conversations. There is absolutely no reason such engagement must await the HSE's finalisation of the reimbursement. That issue should be raised with private hospitals and insurance companies by public representatives. There is nothing to preclude a private entity making available a drug that is available in Ireland. It does not need to wait for the HSE to resolve the reimbursement situation. In such cases, it is important that hospital consultants and insurance companies should be clear and upfront with their patients that the availability of a treatment in the private facility is not decided by the HSE but is an individual decision that they could make in relation to their own facility.

In regard to public hospitals, the public health service and public patients, I want to assure people that nivolumab will now be funded by the HSE for the conditions I have outlined on the record of the House and will be reimbursed by the HSE. I expect that to take place in the coming weeks.