Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

13. To ask the Minister for Health when life-saving drugs (details supplied) will be made available to people here. [40782/17]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

61. To ask the Minister for Health if the overspend in the HSE budget will affect the provision of the nine life-saving drugs (details supplied) the HSE stated it would fund in July 2017. [40783/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 61 together.

The HSE has notified my Department that it has decided, following an assessment under the process set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, to fund the nine treatments referred to by the Deputy in the public health system. Its decision to fund each treatment followed an examination of all relevant information submitted by the applicant companies and took into account expert opinions and recommendations under the evaluation and advisory structures it has put in place. It is in the process of concluding the commercial arrangements and prescribing process for each treatment. I have informed it of the importance I place on the speedy resolution of this process in order that the treatments may be available at the earliest possible dates. As I told the Deputy yesterday, my understanding is that they will be available from 1 November. A number of them could be available before that date. I have stressed this to the HSE. We often criticise companies with good reason in this House, but in this case I thank the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association and its member companies for working with us to try to make sure some of the drugs can be available in advance of that date.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This question has been overtaken by the remarks made by the Minister at a committee meeting yesterday. I would like to mention two issues. The announcement made in July was a stunt, given that, for budgetary reasons, the changes cannot be made until November. When the announcement was made, it should have been made clear that it would take a number of months for the arrangements to be put in place. It is not right to behave in that way and it should not have happened. I am happy that the Minister has said he hopes to pressurise the companies into bringing forward some of the drugs.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In some cases the process is not that complicated, but in others it can be more complicated. I would appreciate it if the Minister identified the drugs in question. We are overpaying for drugs, as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform accepts. It is quite obvious that we are overpaying for them and we cannot go through this again. The process used to make drugs available which involves reimbursements and making decisions led to an embarrassing situation between the Department of Health and the HSE. What happened in the case of the national clinical care programme cannot be allowed to happen again. What process will the Minister put in place to ensure the reimbursement process for drugs will work properly in the future? I will work with him on any such process.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would welcome the opportunity to work with the Deputy and others on this matter. The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 which was passed by the House for good reasons has resulted in these matters being passed back and forth between the HSE which has all of the statutory power and the Department of Health, to which the HSE must revert if it requires funding. They often have to be considered by the Government. The process is rather unedifying and occasionally creates delays. I do not think it is the best one. As an Oireachtas, we need to look at it. I do not want to name the drugs in this House because they are subject to contractual discussions, but I am conscious that some patients are urgently awaiting some of them.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not want such patients to be deprived of the drugs they need for bureaucratic reasons. I have conveyed this message to the HSE in the strongest possible terms. I am aware that contacts with the pharmaceutical companies are ongoing and hope resolutions can be reached speedily in those cases.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will everything be done by November?

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am informed that it will be done from 1 November.