Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health his plans to recommend that the Health Service Executive provide funding for Pirfenidone, a drug approved by the European Medicines Agency in February 2011 and also approved on 21 March 2013 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the health technology appraisal body in England and Wales, for the treatment of mild to moderate Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17771/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Following a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of pirfenidone (Esbriet), the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics concluded that, at the submitted price, pirfenidone is not cost-effective for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The HSE is currently in negotiations with the manufacturers of pirfenidone (Esbriet) and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further while these negotiations are ongoing. The application to the HSE for the reimbursement of this product under the Community Drugs Schemes is being considered in line with the agreed procedures and timescales for the assessment of new medicines as per the 2012 agreement between the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, the HSE and the Department of Health.