Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Health the basis on which he will withdraw the drug fampyra from the drug payment scheme from July 2014; the reason the Health Service Executive will not fund fampyra; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10211/14]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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468. To ask the Minister for Health if it is his intention to include a drug (details supplied) on the list to be covered for payment for persons with medical cards [10794/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 468 together.

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 (Fampyra®) in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed 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 Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product. The report is available on the NCPE's website (). The NCPE report is an important input to assist the HSE in its decision making process and informs further discussions between the HSE and the manufacturer of the drug. The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. In these circumstances, the HSE has not approved the reimbursement of Fampridine under the GMS or other community drug schemes.