Results 15,981-16,000 of 24,567 for speaker:Róisín Shortall

General Practitioner Services (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As I outlined, in situations where people are dying, special arrangements are in place to provide medical card cover, details of which have been circulated to all Members of this House.

General Practitioner Services (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: Let us be clear about that.

General Practitioner Services (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The Government is committed to introducing free GP care within its term and it will be over a four-year period. The issue is the phasing of that and identifying the best way in order that we can do it in a controlled way to ensure the budget does not run out of control and the system is geared up. We are aware that primary care is underdeveloped. We want to see more GPs involved and more...

General Practitioner Services (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: On the bigger questions about funding and the model, as Deputy Ó Caoláin will be aware, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, established the UHI implementation group earlier this year. That expert group, drawn from a wide range of expertise in different fields, has been tasked with drawing up a White Paper on UHI, and the aim is to have that White Paper before the end of the year. Separately, I...

General Practitioner Services (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: It will be a four-step process at least.

Prescription Charges (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: Who?

Mental Health Services (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue that poses challenges for us a country. I hope we will all agree on tackling this issue in a meaningful way in the coming months. The finding to which the Deputy refers comes from a joint Headstrong/UCD survey entitled '"My World", which interviewed more than 14,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 25, the objective of which was to...

Mental Health Services (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: There is no doubting we have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol in this country. There is a cultural problem with alcohol and we must address this matter in a comprehensive way. That is why the strategy was drawn up and we are now working on implementing different aspects of that strategy. It is my intention to bring a memo to Government before the summer to provide for a number of...

Medicinal Products (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The National Centre for Pharmoeconomics, NCPE, plays an important role in the assessment process for new medicines. Its findings are not, however, the sole deciding factor in the process of allocating resources for new and expensive treatments. Its report is an input into decision making, but it is not the decision. The NCPE investigates the robustness of pricing proposals and...

Medicinal Products (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: We must consider these matters in the context of the overall cost of the drugs budget. We spend about 16% of the health budget on drugs, which amounts to almost €2 billion. By any standard, that is a very high proportion and it is not sustainable into the future. That is why there is an onus on all of us to ensure we get better value for money in terms of drug costs. We all want to see...

Medicinal Products (16 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The HSE has no role in determining the threshold. It is the role of the NCPE to consider a number of aspects with regard to how new drugs are to be assessed. I want to make it absolutely clear that there was no reduction in the threshold. I was in touch with the unit today and confirmed that since 2009 cost benefit analyses had been done on two levels, €45,000 per quality-adjusted life...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I propose to take Questions Nos. 456, 477 and 478 together. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and regulations made thereunder regulate and control the import, export, production, supply and possession of a range of named narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances listed in the Schedules to the Act. Substances are scheduled under the Act in accordance with Ireland's obligations under international...

Written Answers — Medicinal Products: Medicinal Products (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: The new drug for patients with progressive melanoma will now be made available. The decision is the culmination of a comprehensive technology review process within the National Cancer Control Programme which included the drug company submission, a clinical practice guideline from medical oncologists and a pharmacoeconomic analysis by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.

Written Answers — Long-Term Illness Scheme: Long-Term Illness Scheme (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460, 467 and 469 together. The Programme for Government commits to reforming the current public health system by introducing Universal Health Insurance with equal access to care for all. As part of this, the Government is committed to introducing Universal GP Care within its first term of office. Primary legislation is required to give effect to this...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: Medical cards are granted by the HSE on the basis of means and individual circumstances and all persons seeking a medical card must be assessed under the undue hardship principle. There are no plans to provide for the granting of medical cards to any particular group of patients with specific medical conditions. The HSE may look beyond the applicants financial situation and have regard to...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (15 May 2012)

Róisín Shortall: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.