Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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166. To ask the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on a medication (details supplied) to be made available through the drugs payment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10121/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. This arises from the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. The Act provides a rigorous process for the assessment of new medicines for reimbursement. This enables taxpayers to be confident that the right medicines are chosen, at a sustainable price. However, price is not the only concern. The Act specifies nine criteria which must be considered. These include the health needs of the public and the clinical need for the medicine. All these factors, taken together, allow the HSE to make an informed decision on new medicines.

I recognise the importance of providing the best care possible to patients with this condition. Women’s Health has been and will be a focus of mine since taking this office. We have made real progress in improving the healthcare available to women in Ireland. Fezolinetant (Veoza®) was authorised by the European Medicines Agency in October 2023. The company marketing it submitted an application for reimbursement to the HSE on the 8th of February 2024. A full Health Technology Assessment was commissioned by the HSE on the 8th April 2024. As part of the pricing and reimbursement application process the full Health Technology Assessment must be submitted to the HSE. As it currently stands a completed Health Technology Assessment is required to progress this application, as per the formal processes governing the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The pricing and reimbursement application cannot proceed without the completed Health Technology Assessment. My officials will be following its progress with interest.