Written Answers. - Supply of Medicines.
Enda Kenny
Question:
35
Mr. Kenny
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
whether he is required to make Viagra available on the general medical services under the current agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association under the terms of the agreement on the supply of medicines which came into force on 1 August 1997 and will remain in force until 31 July 2001; and the reason for the establishment of an expert advisory committee to consider this issue having regard to the circumstances involved.
[18859/98]
Dick Spring
Question:
39
Mr. Spring
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on making Viagra available to general medical service patients and under the community drugs refund schemes; the composition of the expert group which he has established; when that group will report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18885/98]
Alan Shatter
Question:
52
Mr. Shatter
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
whether he is required to make Viagra available on the general medical services under the current agreement with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association under the terms of the agreement on the supply of medicines which came into force on 1 August 1997 and will remain in force until 31 July 2001; and the reason for the establishment of an expert advisory committee to consider this issue having regard to the circumstances involved.
[18858/98]
Liz McManus
Question:
103
Ms McManus
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
when he will receive the report of the committee examining whether the drug Viagra should be made available to medical card holders requiring treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18992/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 39, 52 and 103 together.
Viagra is now available on prescription in this country. However, because of the absence of any experience in Europe of the demand for the drug by patients or the prescribing patterns of doctors, and because of the issues surrounding the control of the drug, which have been extensively reported in the media, it is difficult at this stage to come to any conclusions on whether Viagra should be available on the general medical services scheme or the community drugs schemes. An expert group has therefore been established to examine this matter in detail. Pending the outcome of the group's deliberations, Viagra will not be included in the general medical services scheme or reimbursable under the community drugs schemes. The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, IPHA, was informed of my decision in this regard.
The expert group, under the chairmanship of my Department's chief medical officer, Dr Jim Kiely, draws on expertise in urology, endocrinology, pharmacology and general practice. Its members are Professor John Fitzpatrick, professor of surgery; Mr Eamonn Kiely, consultant urologist; Professor John Feely, professor of pharmacology; Dr Richard Firth, endocrinologist; Dr Ailis Ni Riain, general practitioner; Dr. Patiick O'Meara, general practitioner and Dr. Chris McNamara, general practitioner adviser to my Department.
The terms of reference of the group are to monitor the demand for Viagra and the prescribing pattern of doctors; to assess the effectiveness of the drug and to recommend a prescribing protocol and controls which will ensure that patients with genuine medical need can obtain the drug under the general medical services scheme or the community drugs schemes as appropriate and protect against misuse.
The group is being asked to report within three months and to make an interim report at that stage if it is not in a position to make final recommendations.
