Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the formal remit of the National Centre for Pharmaco-economics; if this remit was approved by his Department or the HSE; the timeline associated with its approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25082/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) was established in 1998 and its remit is to advise the HSE and the Department of Health in relation to the cost-effectiveness of medicines, through the carrying out of health technology assessments (HTAs).

The Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 gives full statutory powers to the HSE to assess and make decisions on the reimbursement of all medicines. 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.