Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 660: To ask the Minister for Health the current cost of Gauchers Disease per patient here; the number of persons diagnosed with the disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32319/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Information on the prevalence and treatment costs of Gaucher's Disease is not routinely available since this condition is not covered by statutory notification nor at present included in any disease registers. The Hospital InPatient Enquiry (HIPE) records details on each inpatient and daycase discharged from publicly-funded acute hospitals. In HIPE, Gaucher's Disease is listed under the category of "Other Sphingolipidosis" which also includes a range of other conditions. Total hospital discharges for this category in 2010 were 129 of which 120 were daycase treatments. It is not possible to estimate what proportion of these treatments may relate specifically to Gaucher's Disease.