Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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549. To ask the Minister for Health if public patients that have the EGFR mutation have been tested for the T790M mutation. [4384/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There are some drugs with dedicated molecular targets, including in relation to the EGFR mutation, that are approved for use by the HSE. The HSE ensure that required molecular tests, used to inform specific drug treatment, are available to patients attending public hospitals providing cancer services.

There are no drugs approved by the HSE that require testing for the T790M mutation and, as such, testing is not the standard of care in Ireland.

A standard process is in place for the HSE reimbursement of new drugs, and new indications for existing drugs. This assessment process is intended to arrive at decisions on the funding of drugs that are clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable.