Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for State for coming to the House to deal with this Adjournment matter which concerns the medication, Selincro Nalmefene, an innovative treatment which was found to be cost effective and the subject of a positive recommendation from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics on 8 April.

It was announced today that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the United Kingdom, the equivalent of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, had recommended the use of Selincro for people with an alcohol dependence. This meant that the medicine would be available to patients within 90 days. This treatment has been recommended and proved to have a positive effect. We are awaiting a decision on its use.

The issue was raised that if we were to introduce the drug if there would be a need to provide for the availability of appropriate psycho-social supports. The European Medicines Agency has recommended the provision of psycho-social supports focused on treatment compliance and alcohol reduction. General practitioners are aware of this and conscious that such supports must be put in place if we are to introduce the drug which is not suitable for everyone. I understand the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics has assessed the cost of introducing it at between €6.7 million and €12 million over a five year period. It was announced in April that the decision should be seriously considered. I ask for clarity as to when we are likely to see that decision being made. Will it be made the end of the year or will it take longer? It would be helpful for everyone involved in the area to know.

There has been a huge increase in alcohol consumption. A report has revealed that in 2010 the average Irish consumer drank 11.9 litres of pure alcohol, equivalent to 482 pints of lager, 125 bottles of wine or 45 bottles of vodka. This highlights the fact that if a person has a drink problem and there is a drug that can assist him or her in reducing his or her alcohol consumption, its use should be carefully considered.