Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, who regrets that he is unavailable to address the issue today. The Minister is aware that access to potentially beneficial drug treatments is an important issue for people with MS and that MS sufferers and their families face enormous day-to-day challenges in dealing with this progressive and debilitating condition.

Decisions on which medicines are licensed for use in Ireland, and which are reimbursed by the taxpayer, are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, NCPE. The NCPE is a team of clinicians, pharmacists, pharmacologists and statisticians who evaluate the benefits and costs of medical technologies and provide advice to the HSE.The NCPE conducts health technology assessments of pharmaceutical products for the HSE and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process. The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. It is appropriate that these should not be political or ministerial decisions and that a scientific and evidence-based approach is taken to determine the extent to which patients would benefit from treatment with expensive new drugs and whether this represents cost-effectiveness for the health service and the taxpayer.

Sativex is indicated for the relief of symptoms of spasticity for people with MS where other conservative treatments have failed to provide adequate benefits. In July 2014, the Health Products Regulatory Authority granted a marketing authorisation for the cannabis-based medicinal product Sativex to be marketed in Ireland. In early September 2014, the HSE received an application for inclusion of Sativex under the community drugs schemes high-tech arrangements. A health technology assessment on Sativex has been completed by the NCPE, which did not recommend reimbursement of Sativex at the submitted price. The report by the NCPE is an important input to assist the HSE in its decision-making process and informed further engagement between the HSE and the supplier relating to potential pricing arrangements for this product.

The matter remains under consideration by the HSE and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further on the matter at present. The Minister appreciates that some may take the view that the taxpayer should reimburse every licensed medicine for whatever price a drug company demands, the interests of the health service as a whole require that we only reimburse the most effective medicines and only at a fair price.