Written Answers Nos. 234-42
234. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 693, if he will meet the narcolepsy support group; and the date on which he will roll out the support package promised in early 2012. [11782/13]
View answerMy priority is to ensure that children/adolescents affected by narcolepsy with symptom onset post pandemic vaccination are provided with services and supports to meet their health needs. The Health Service Executive and the Department of Education and Skills together provide a comprehensive range of services and supports to those affected.
The HSE through its advocacy unit and regional co-ordinators assist individuals affected by narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination and family members of those so affected, in accessing appropriate services and supports. These supports and services include access to rapid diagnosis, clear treatment pathways, temporary medical cards and reimbursement of expenses incurred. This includes expenses for counselling services for individuals and also for families of children affected by narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination, in cases where such services are not already available through the HSE.
Multi-disciplinary assessments which allow for the appropriate individualised health and educational supports to be put in place are ongoing. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is also engaging with the HSE and with the individual schools and parents of children concerned to identify and provide educational supports for the children and adolescents affected. My Department is considering all possible supports which may need to be put in place for those affected by narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination. A further meeting with representatives from SOUND will be arranged when the matter has been concluded.
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.
242. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if the post of Director of Mental Health for the Health Service Executive has been filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11816/13]
View answerRevised HSE management structures are being put in place in conjunction with the new governance arrangements provided for in the Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012; the recruitment process for a Chief Financial Officer and five National Directors, including the Director of Mental Health, has now commenced. The competition for the post of Director of Mental Health was advertised by the Public Appointments Service on 21 January 2013 and the closing date for receipt of applications was 7 February 2013. Staff employed in the HSE, the Department of Health, other statutory health agencies and bodies which provide services on behalf of the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004, were eligible to apply. I understand that preliminary interviews for the position will be conducted in mid March.
