Written answers

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Department of Health

Medicinal Products Prices

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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645. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the director of the National Cancer Control Programme has warned that the price of new cancer drugs is unsustainable and a number of costly personalised cancer drugs are about to be launched here, if he will ensure that they will not be priced beyond the reach of the general public; his plans to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22529/13]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has put a robust assessment process in place for new medicines, including cancer medicines, to ensure that the HSE can provide access to as many medicines as possible from within available resources. This includes a requirement for pharmaceutical companies to justify the proposed price for new medicines, as well as technical assessments by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics for medicines with significant budget implications. These assessments are used in decision making around new cancer medicines and during formal price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. The NCCP has also put a multi-disciplinary Therapeutic Review Committee in place, specifically for the assessment of new, and on occasion existing, cancer medicines with regard to their benefits, costs and budget impact implications. In parallel to this, the NCCP has also instituted an Oncology Drug Management System for newly approved hospital based cancer medicines. This system is intended to ensure fair and equitable access across all hospitals, on a “money follows the patient” basis.

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