Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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418. To ask the Minister for Health if he will sanction financial support for cancer patients undergoing life saving treatment (details supplied) in private hospitals, which is currently not available through the HSE; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these treatments are costing patients up to €3,300 a time; if he will consider making allowances for medical card holders with limited means that find themselves in such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8243/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to reimbursement of the medicine prior to such a decision being taken by the HSE.

The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 established a list of drugs which may be supplied to eligible persons, under Section 59 of the Health Act 1970. The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 gives full statutory authority to the HSE to add new drugs to the list. The Act sets out the specific criteria that the HSE must make such a decision in accordance with.

There is no provision in the Act to provide financial support to medical card patients in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy.