David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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566. To ask the Minister for Health the number of prescriptions for cariban that have been processed through the drug payment scheme in 2021 and in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6538/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Following the recommendations of the HSE Medicines Management Programme, and to address the unmet need of those patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy), reimbursement support for Cariban® (doxylamine/pyridoxine) has been made available since 1st January 2023 under an exceptional arrangement on an individual patient basis where consultant initiated. Hyperemesis gravidarum is expected to affect about 1% of the pregnant population.

There were no applications processed through the Drug Payment Scheme in 2021 and 2022.

However, as of 10th February 2023, the number of applications received by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) under the new exceptional arrangement was 384. This is in line with expectations.