Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Question 563: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to include the drug Pradaxa in the drugs refund scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27830/12]

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Health when he expects the Health Service Executive to have completed its assessment of resources to provide for the long term use of the drug Pradaxa to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (details supplied) [28395/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 620 together.

Pradaxa is available under the GMS Scheme, the Drug Payment Scheme and other community drugs schemes for the prevention of blood clots in adult patients who have undergone elective hip replacement surgery or elective knee replacement surgery.

The HSE is assessing the availability of resources to provide for the long term treatment with Pradaxa for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. This is a complicated process with long term implications. The HSE wrote to all GMS doctors and community pharmacy contractors in November 2011 to clarify the position in relation to Pradaxa. The HSE will continue to update healthcare professionals in relation to the matter.

The HSE does not intend to disturb established therapeutic regimens for patients whose treatment with Pradaxa for the prevention of stroke was initiated prior to the clarification.