Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding a cancer drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23412/12]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Health the negotiations he has held with drug companies regarding the provision of the drug Ipilimumab; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23553/12]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health the estimated cost per person of providing the drug Ipilimumab through the health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23555/12]

Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Health if he will sanction the use of the drug, Ipilimumab, through the Health Service Executive, based on its success rate in treating Melanoma; his justification for not sanctioning it in view of its ability to potentially save the lives of Melanoma sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23577/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 195, 197 and 201 together.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Health Service Executive announced on Thursday 3rd of May that Ipilimumab (trade name Yervoy), 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.

Negotiations regarding optimal pricing commenced in November 2011 and were recently satisfactorily concluded. The cost of supplying the drug on a per person basis is subject to a number of variables including the prescribed regimen and the length of time that treatment would be undertaken. The HSE will monitor prescribing levels and associated costs on a continual basis with an overall assessment of cost per patient after an appropriate period of time.