Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2013
235. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the details on the procedure for stock control and stock taking of high tech drugs that are paid for by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11783/13]
View answer236. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to pharmacists per patient to dispense high tech drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11790/13]
View answer237. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the cost of the high tech drug scheme from 2009 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11791/13]
View answer238. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently registered for the high tech drug scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11792/13]
View answer239. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the price range for medicines under the high tech drug scheme from lowest to highest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11793/13]
View answer240. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the way products are currently covered under the high tech drug scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11794/13]
View answer241. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the monetary value of high tech drugs returned by pharmacies from 2009 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11795/13]
View answer244. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has the cost of wastage figures for high tech drug stock that have gone out of date and if so, if he will furnish the figures from 2009 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11836/13]
View answer245. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if an agreement exists whereby wholesalers would accept unused high tech drugs, if so, if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11837/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235 to 241, inclusive, 244 and 245 together.
All pharmacies that dispense High Tech medicines must complete an annual stock take of these medicines at the end of each year. In addition, they are requested to provide details of all ‘out of date’ stock and any stock that has been spoiled during the year (e.g. due to fridge malfunction). The HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) provides each pharmacy with a High Tech drug file to assist them in completing their return.
Pharmacists are paid a Patient Care Fee of €62.03 per month. A Non Dispensing Fee of €31.02 is paid for a maximum of three consecutive months. The cost of the High Tech Scheme, for the years 2009 to 2011, is as follows:
|
Year |
Total amount paid to wholesalers |
Patient Care Fees paid to pharmacists |
|
2009 |
€315,355,866 |
€15,938,159 |
|
2010 |
€345,758,331 |
€15,484,876 |
|
2011 |
€350,181,003 |
€17,998,257 |
There were 60,888 persons registered under the Scheme in 2011. The figures for 2012 are not yet available.
Unlike the medical card scheme, the Drug Payment Scheme and the Long Term Illness Scheme persons are not registered in advance to participate in the High Tech Scheme. Instead, patients who are prescribed medications that fall within the terms of the scheme are supplied with drugs under the scheme as and when required.
Kalydeco Film Coated Tablets 150mg, pack size 56, with a reimbursement price of €18,000 is the most expensive product on the scheme while Sandostatin 1ml Ampules 50mcg/ ml, pack size 5, with a reimbursement price of €3.81 is the cheapest. The scheme covers products in the following categories:-
- Medicinal products developed by means of one of the following biotechnological processes
(a) recombinant DNA technology
(b) controlled expression of gene coding for biologically active proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes including transformed mammalian cells.
(c) hybridoma and monoclonal antibody methods,
- medicinal products developed by other biotechnological processes which, in the opinion of the European Medicines Agency, constitute a significant innovation,
- medicinal products which because of their particular characteristics have been considered as requiring authorisation in the EU central authorisation system,
- medicinal products containing a new chemical entity which provides a significant new therapeutic use, and
- medicinal products in respect of which the prescription or the original prescription should be issued by an appropriate medical specialist working in a hospital setting.
The following table shows the value of High Tech Drugs held by pharmacists at year end:
|
Area |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
HSE – Midlands Area |
€2,174,332.06 |
€2,707,653.56 |
€2,456,175.28 |
|
HSE – Mid-Western Area |
€1,902,751.89 |
€2,107,470.67 |
€1,917,854.82 |
|
HSE – North Eastern Area |
€2,511,065.08 |
€3,011,834.79 |
€3,060,206.00 |
|
HSE – North Western Area |
€2,013,409.87 |
€2,017,464.85 |
€2,078,173.99 |
|
HSE – South Eastern Area |
€3,465,926.25 |
€3,860,553.94 |
€3,912,613.27 |
|
HSE – Southern Area |
€4,313,085.97 |
€4,862,354.77 |
€4,804,250.71 |
|
HSE – Western Area |
€1,866,559.37 |
€2,066,371.55 |
€1,930,924.04 |
|
HSE - East Coast Area |
€2,652,964.28 |
€2,867,979.73 |
€3,384,219.77 |
|
HSE – South Western Area |
€4,499,744.19 |
€5,065,515.70 |
€4,526,185.34 |
|
HSE – Northern Area |
€3,363,270.50 |
€4,041,168.64 |
€3,798,148.68 |
|
Total |
€28,763,109.46 |
€32,608,368.20 |
€31,868,751.90 |
The figures for 2012 are not yet available.
The following table shows the cost of 'out of date stock' High Tech Drugs:
|
Area |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
HSE – Midlands Area |
€163,770.98 |
€130.336.01 |
€123,525.97 |
|
HSE – Mid-Western Area |
€69,425.83 |
€92,036.13 |
€83,253.31 |
|
HSE – North Eastern Area |
€159,513.85 |
€180,020.85 |
€176,095.41 |
|
HSE – North Western Area |
€71,087.07 |
€95,604.86 |
€81,187.09 |
|
HSE – South Eastern Area |
€151,115.31 |
€189,532.24 |
€187,029.57 |
|
HSE – Southern Area |
€229,100.43 |
€194,013.67 |
€223,154.60 |
|
HSE – Western Area |
€48,316.41 |
€38,667.79 |
€40,167.49 |
|
HSE - East Coast Area |
€152,488.53 |
€158,864.89 |
€211,997.25 |
|
HSE – South Western Area |
€159,906.80 |
€212,064.91 |
€188,682.63 |
|
HSE – Northern Area |
€209,680.80 |
€230,127.06 |
€115,667.40 |
|
Total |
€1,414,406.01 |
€1,521264.41 |
€1,430,760.72 |
The figures for 2012 are not yet available.
The HSE is discussing with wholesalers a formal 'returns' mechanism for High Tech Medicines. Any returns mechanism must be in compliance with the relevant regulatory framework.
