Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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723. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to include a drug (details supplied) which helps patients suffering from the effects and symptoms of multiple sclerosis in the long-term illness scheme or the drug payment scheme; his reasoning for this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3870/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine (brand name Fampyra) in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed in 2012 by my Department and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of the product in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend reimbursement of the product under the community drug schemes. The report is available on the NCPE's website ().

The NCPE report is an important input to assist the HSE decision making process. The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of high cost new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. The HSE Drugs Group concluded that as no evidence of cost effectiveness had been provided by the manufacturer, it was not possible to establish that the significant budget impact associated with the product was a reasonable use of scarce health resources. Consequently, the HSE decided not to reimburse this product under the community drug schemes.