Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medical products under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.

The HSE advise that the following pain relief patches are currently available on the reimbursement list:

• Durogesic DTrans Transdermal patches
• Fental Matrix Transdermal patches
• Matrifen Transdermal patches
• Fentadur Transdermal patches
• Butrans Transdermal patches
• Versatis plasters (subject to a managed access system, indicated for post-herpetic neuralgia)

Patients prescribed Versatis plasters are reviewed by the Medicines Management Programme (MMP) for reimbursement approval, on foot of an application by the patient’s clinician, through the HSE online system.

In exceptional circumstances, Versatis plasters may be approved for supply for unlicensed uses. If an application is refused, the clinician may make an appeal to the MMP by email, making a clear clinical case for the patient. This process ensures that post-shingles patients, and other patients as clinically appropriate, can continue to have this specific treatment.

As this question also raises a service matter in respect of a specific individual, it has also been referred to the HSE who will respond directly to Deputy, as soon as possible.