Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012
524 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he will be seeking any costs back from the three clinics on which PIP implants were inserted; if the National Treatment Purchase Fund had to be used to remove them for safety risks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33605/12]
View answerSince concerns were first raised in March 2010 regarding the issue of breast implants, provided by the now defunct French company Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP), my Department's clear priority has been to try and ensure that the three treating clinics involved in the issue provide professional and appropriate care to their affected clients. However despite intensive efforts, by the office of the Chief Medical Officer, such appropriate care on the scale required has not been forthcoming. Despite intense discussions one provider has failed to deliver an appropriate care package for its clients. Consequently it has been decided that the necessary care required by the affected recipients of these implants should be made available via an alternative route, i.e. the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). Accordingly the Department has now commenced work on sourcing an alternative service via the NTPF. This will encompass surgical consultation, radiology if required and removal of implants if this is deemed clinically necessary. The Department intends to seek recovery of the costs incurred by the NTPF from the relevant service provider.
