Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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400. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE has refused access to the drug Translarna when only five young children have the rare condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy which this drug is prescribed for and which will benefit these children greatly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39775/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The 2013 Act does not give the Minister for Health any powers in this regard.

The Act specifies the criteria to be applied in the making of reimbursement decisions which include the clinical and cost effectiveness of the product, the opportunity cost and the impact on resources that are available to the HSE.

The HSE has received a new application for the reimbursement of Ataluren (Translarna) from the company.

The application is being assessed at present in accordance with the criteria set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.