Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2014
627. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is willing to change his position and allow famprya to be covered under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25339/14]
View answer735. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health in respect of the product fampyra which has been licensed for sale in Ireland since January 2014 and is presumably considered to be a safe and efficacious treatment for symptoms of multiple sclerosis, the reason this product is not yet available under the long-term illness scheme or drugs refund scheme; if he will ensure that patients with multiple sclerosis who can benefit from this product are not required to meet the full costs from their own resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26015/14]
View answer744. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to including the medication, fampyra, for multiple sclerosis on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26118/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 627, 735 and 744 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of Fampridine in the GMS and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures and timescales agreed by the Department of Health and the HSE with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) for the assessment of new medicines. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of Fampridine and concluded that, as the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of Fampridine in the Irish healthcare setting, it was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the product. The report is available on the NCPE's website (www.ncpe.ie). The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment in which the Government targeted additional savings in health expenditure of €619 million in 2014, which must be achieved while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible, the HSE decided it was not in a position to add the drug to the List of Reimbursable Items supplied under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
It is open to the supplier, at any time, to submit a new application to the HSE incorporating new evidence which demonstrates the cost effectiveness of Fampridine. The HSE will then reconsider the application to add this product to the List of Reimbursable Items, in line with the agreed procedures and timescales for the assessment of new medicines.
In this context, I understand the manufacturer has indicated to the HSE that it intends to submit a revised application for Fampridine. The HSE will then reconsider the application in line with the agreed procedures and timescales for the assessment of new medicines.
