Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1792.To ask the Minister for Health if there is a shortage, or potential shortage, of the chemicals or medication necessary for chemotherapy treatments in any Irish hospitals; the remedial measures he will adopt to address any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35061/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Dear Deputy Carthy,

To inform the response to your question, my Officials have consulted with Ireland’s medicines regulator, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).

The HPRA is aware that Baxter Healthcare Ireland had previously temporarily paused production of compounded medicines at their Sandyford facility as a precautionary measure. This manufacturing disruption impacted supply of compounded Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) products along with other products manufactured at the Sandyford site. This ongoing disruption is impacting the supply of some compounded SACT products to hospitals.

The HPRA is engaging closely with Baxter Healthcare Ireland and understands that the company is working towards resolution of the identified manufacturing issues and has commenced releasing products to customers, working towards increasing its production capacity to facilitate full restoration of supply.

The NCCP understand that Baxter’s production has recommenced on a phased approach, and they are utilising all available resources to mitigate patient impact including provision of stock products from UK companies.

16 of the 26 hospitals that provide SACT services have local compounding facilities and are less affected than the 10 hospitals that do not have local compounding facilities. The hospitals mainly impacted are those who are completely dependent on outsourcing their compounded SACT.

Contingency measures recommended by the NCCP are being implemented by hospitals where possible, and appropriate, to reduce the impact to patients. These mitigations include, utilising alternative SACT suppliers, preparing some SACT locally where possible and engaging with other hospitals to provide support with the supply of SACT.

Ensuring patients receive timely and quality treatment for their cancer remains a priority for the NCCP and the HSE. The HPRA are also liaising with relevant HSE partners to deliver a coordinated response to this matter and to ensure the return of standard levels of supply. This remains the absolute priority of all parties involved.