Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Health if negotiations with the relevant pharmaceutical company has progressed so as to ensure that persons who are suffering hepatitis C will be in a position to be provided with a new treatment as approximately 150 of these patients require immediate availability of the said treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35979/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, 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 in February 2014 for the inclusion of Sofosbuvir, the first of a new generation of drugs for the treatment of Hepatitis C, in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application is being considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association for the assessment of new medicines.

In accordance with these procedures, the HSE asked the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) to conduct a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of the new product in June 2014. This evaluation will provide detailed information on the potential budget impact of the medicine. It will also assess whether the product is cost effective at the price quoted by the manufacturer. The NCPE report is an important input to assist the HSE in its decision making process. 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. It would not be appropriate to comment further on this matter until the HSE assessment process is complete.

It is worth noting that the Department has established an advisory group to examine the feasibility and cost implications of a multi-annual approach to the clinical and public health management of hepatitis C. This group will furnish a report to the Minister for Health on this issue when it has completed its work.