Seanad debates

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Access to Cancer Treatment Bill 2012: Second Stage

 

This simple legislation assures the patient of guaranteed access to drugs that are going to help them in the context of outcome. Of course, there are certain scenarios where a drug will be too expensive given the expected outcome or given the expected extension of life. Professor Crown will give examples of such drugs in regard to breast cancer, where consultants, because the extended period given is so small and the cost so high, understand that these issues have to be balanced. However, we cannot have a criteria based solely on cost. As I said, the criterion of cost per life saved is far too crude a methodology on which to make that assessment, for the reasons I highlighted.

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