Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure Senator O'Brien that the system for those aged under six and over 70 will be up and running before the end of the year. The Senator referred to fampridine yesterday. The HSE received an application for the inclusion of fampridine in the General Medical Services and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducted an evaluation of fampridine and concluded that the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate sufficient effectiveness and a fair price for fampridine in the Irish health care setting. It was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product. On foot of this the HSE decided that it was not in a position to add the drug to the list of reimbursable items supplied under the GMS and other community drug systems and schemes.

It was open to the supplier to submit a new application to the HSE for the inclusion of fampridine in the community drugs schemes, incorporating new evidence which would demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of the drug by offering it at a reduced price, or both. The revised application was received by the HSE in July 2014. It has since engaged with the company, seeking an improved commercial offering. These engagements have been completed and the HSE is now considering their outcome. The HSE has also had discussions with clinical experts on this drug, the outcome of which is also being considered.