Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

918. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 12 December 2017, the status of his plans for the HSE to fund PrEP in view of the fact that these drugs became available for prescription from 4 December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16112/18]

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

The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act specifies the criteria for decisions on the reimbursement of medicines.

The 2013 Act does not give the Minister for Health any powers in this regard.  The HSE does not require approval or consent from the Minister or Government when making a reimbursement decision.

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 NCPE indicate that a HTA was commissioned by the HSE on Emtricitabine / tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada®) on 19 July 2017. The NCPE are currently awaiting a submission from the applicant to conduct this assessment.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) currently has marketing authorisation in the EU and as such is available from pharmacies with a private prescription.

The HIV PrEP group continues to work towards the goal of ensuring that everyone in Ireland has access to adequate and effective HIV prevention and remains focused on making recommendations in relation to PrEP in Ireland and developing the necessary guidance to inform implementation.