Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

376. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the availability of streptozocin as a cancer treatment drug for cancer patients in the State; and if he will confirm that a patient (details supplied) in County Cork is eligible for this treatment. [49295/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 a drug's clinical and cost effectiveness as a health intervention.

Streptozotocin does not currently have marketing authorisation in the European Union or Ireland. The national assessment and decision process cannot commence in the absence of a marketing authorisation for Streptozotocin.