John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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161. To ask the Minister for Health if he has had a meeting with an organisation (details supplied) to address the issue of ensuring that new medicines are made available to persons with MS as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38198/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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. As Minister for Health, I do not have any statutory power or function in relation to reimbursement of medicines.

Under the 2013 Act, if a company wishes to have a medicine reimbursed through the community drugs schemes, it must submit an application to the HSE to have the medicine added to the Reimbursement List.

As outlined in the 2016 Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines, 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 add the medicine to the reimbursement list, agree to reimburse it as a hospital medicine or refuse to reimburse it.

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 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 ongoing basis. This can lead to a protracted deliberation process.

I am keen to explore ways in which new medicines might be more easily available for public patients in Ireland, but innovative approaches must be compatible with the statutory provisions in place and must also recognise fundamental pricing and funding issues, in the context of finite Exchequer resources.

Owing to scheduling difficulties, it was not possible for me to meet with MS Ireland in June. However, I am willing to meet with MS Ireland on a mutually convenient date.