Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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172. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to improve the speed and efficiency of health technology assessments for new treatments that have already been approved by the European Medicines Agency, in particular preventative treatments for Covid-19 for immunocompromised people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10382/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Health technology assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process that summarises information about the medical, social, economic, and ethical issues related to the use of a health technology. Examples of health technologies include medicinal products, medical equipment, diagnostic and treatment methods, rehabilitation, and prevention methods. Its aim is to inform the formulation of safe and effective health policies, investment and reimbursement decisions that are patient focused and seek to achieve best value.

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 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 NCPE. The NCPE conducts HTAs for the HSE and makes recommendations on reimbursement to assist HSE decisions.

Last week, I published a Report prepared by Mazars which examined the governance arrangements of the HSE’s drug reimbursement process. The Report found that the HSE process is operating in line with the legislation and that it is delivering results in keeping with international norms.

I have prioritised progressing the recommendations concerning transparency from the Report. As well as this, an Implementation Working Group is being established between the Department of Health and the HSE. This Group will consider and progress the various recommendations contained in the Report, one of which is an increase in resourcing for the NCPE.