James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

735. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department or the HSE are examining ways to ensure that persons with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, MS, have timely access to life changing medicines here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15331/18]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

780. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to engage with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure new medicines are available to persons with MS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15604/18]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

853. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE are engaging with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure new medicines are made available to persons with MS. [15765/18]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

858. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to engage with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that new medicines are available to persons with MS in a timely manner; the efforts he has carried out to date to ensure new medicines are available in a timely manner to those that need them most; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15784/18]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

929. To ask the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that new medicines are available to persons with MS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16163/18]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

935. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address concerns (details supplied) regarding MS and drug access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16218/18]

Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

956. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) relating to persons with MS raised in correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16363/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1001. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to engage with an organisation (details supplied) and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure new and effective medicines are available to persons with MS through a fair and sustainable system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16627/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1002. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the provision of new and effective medicines for MS patients undergoes such a lengthy waiting period compared to other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16628/18]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1038. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that can be taken to speed up the process whereby patients with multiple sclerosis can gain access to life changing medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16799/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 735, 780, 853, 858, 929, 935, 956, 1001, 1002 and 1038 together.

The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.   As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to the reimbursement of medicines. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.

In line with the 2013 Act, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE pursuant to the Community Drugs scheme, the company must first submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the Reimbursement List.

As outlined in the IPHA agreement, and in line with the 2013 Act, the HSE will decide, within 180 days of receiving the application (or a longer period if further information is sought from the company), to either add the medicine to the reimbursement list or agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine, or refuse to reimburse the medicine.

HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).

The NCPE conducts health technology assessments (HTAs) for the HSE, and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions. The NCPE uses a decision framework to systematically assess whether a drug is cost-effective as a health intervention.

The HSE strives to reach a decision in as timely a manner as possible. However, because of the significant monies involved, it must ensure that the best price is achieved, as these commitments are often multi-million euro investments on an on-going basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.

I have been informed that the NCPE is currently conducting health technology assessments for Ocrelizumab for the treatment of adult patients with early primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS).

I am keen to engage with Industry and to explore ways in which new medicines might be more easily introduced in Ireland.  However, any innovative approaches that may be tabled must be compatible with the statutory provisions which are in place and must also recognise the fundamental pricing/funding issues in the context of finite Exchequer resources. 

I have indicated willingness to meet with MS Ireland and my office is in contact with the organisation to arrange a mutually convenient date.