Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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253. To ask the Minister for Health the analysis used by the National Centre for Pharmaeconomics in their decision not to make Pirfendione available for patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis on economic grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23124/13]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of a medical drug in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 258 together.

The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of pirfenidone in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed last year by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of pirfenidone and concluded that, at the submitted price, pirfenidone is not cost-effective for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie).

The NCPE report is an important input to assist decision making and informs further discussions between the HSE and the manufacturer of the drug. The HSE is currently in negotiations with the manufacturers of pirfenidone and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment further while these negotiations are ongoing. The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of pirfenidone that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. The HSE understands that patients and clinicians are very anxious that a decision be made as soon as possible.