John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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703. To ask the Minister for Health is she aware that once cancer treatment is completed, some patients are prescribed high tech medication for which the HSE can only allow a three-month script, meaning patients have to go into the hospital every three months just to get a prescription; and if she sees any practical way of overcoming this costly and time-consuming inconvenience. [15039/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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High Tech medicines are high-cost hospital prescribed medicines which are paid for by the HSE and dispensed in the community pharmacy and are managed under the High-Tech Arrangements. However, clinical oversight is provided under the leadership of medical consultants.

As per S.I No. 73/2024 which came into operation on 1 March 2024, and as per PCRS circular 008/24, if the hospital clinician wishes to prescribe up to 12 months of a High Tech medicine, this is acceptable under High Tech Arrangements. The High Tech Hub has been updated to facilitate prescribers to issue High Tech prescription forms up to 12 months in duration. HSE has confirmed that there have been no changes to the arrangements outlined in circular 008/24. However, prescribers are under no obligation to prescribe high-tech medications for longer than they deem clinically appropriate.