Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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1288. To ask the Minister for Health when a new cancer medication (details supplied), which has been approved by the European Medicines Agency, will be approved in Ireland and included in the HSE reimbursement scheme; the reason for the delay in including this medication in the reimbursement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29101/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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1325. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to ensure a fast-tracked review of VYLOY (zolbetuximab-clzb) for inclusion in the HSE reimbursement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29201/25]

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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1440. To ask the Minister for Health urgent approval will be granted for the drug vyloy (zolbetuximab) which is used for certain types of gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29662/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1288, 1325 and 1440 together.

Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines therefore I have reached out to the HSE in this matter.

The HSE has advised that there is a National Application, Assessment & Decision Process for new medicines which is underpinned by Primary Legislation (Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013) put in place by the Oireachtas. The HSE must comply with the relevant legislation when considering investment decisions around new medicines.

The HSE must robustly assess applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.

There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed.

Pharmaceutical companies are required to submit formal applications to the HSE if they wish for their medicines to be added to the list of reimbursable items / funded via hospitals. The decision of pharmaceutical companies to market licensed medicines i.e. whether or not to submit a formal application, is outside the control of the HSE.

In terms of the specific details of an application for pricing and reimbursement of zolbetuximab (Vyloy®):

A pricing and reimbursement application has not been received by the HSE for zolbetuximab (Vyloy®) from the Marketing Authorisation Holder.

As outlined above, the national assessment and decision process cannot commence in the absence of a pricing and reimbursement application submission to the HSE.