Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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308. To ask the Minister for Health if the drug prembrolizumab will be licensed for use in the treatment of fine cell neuroendocrine rectal cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41316/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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309. To ask the Minister for Health if the drug nivolumab will be made available to persons in the public health system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41317/17]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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385. To ask the Minister for Health when a drug will be available for a person (details supplied) who has been prescribed nivolumab [41552/17]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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408. To ask the Minister for Health when nivolumab will be made available on the HSE primary care reimbursement service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41691/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309, 385 and 408 together.

The HSE has received separate applications for the reimbursement of Nivolumab (Opdivo) for eight separate indications, including for use as a combination therapy. These applications relate to funding of these treatments in the public health service.

Following an assessment by the HSE, and consultation with my Department regarding the funding implications, Nivolumab has been approved by the HSE for the treatment of:

- melanoma (monotherapy);

- renal cell carcinoma, and

- Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Following engagement between the HSE and the company I understand that the HSE expect the reimbursement of Nivolumab for these indications in public hospitals to commence from the 9th October 2017.

In addition, the HSE has decided not to support the use of Nivolumab in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Availability of these treatments in a private hospital is a matter between the individual patient, their health insurer and the hospital concerned.

Any decision by a private health insurer to link its policy on cover for a drug treatment in a private hospital to the HSE assessment process is a matter for the insurer and the private hospital concerned.

The remaining applications are currently being considered in line with the decision making criteria and are at different stages of the assessment process.