Written Answers Nos. 545-557
545. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is eligible for the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if not, the waiting time for the person's surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23055/15]
View answerI am determined that waiting times for spinal services at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin must be addressed. Funding was allocated in the HSE Service Plan for 2015 for the appointment of an orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and support staff at Crumlin. This will maximise the use of available theatre sessions in the hospital. The first of these additional staff is now in post, and recruitment for the remaining posts is in process. In addition, capital funding has been agreed for a new theatre on site at Crumlin, which will expand theatre capacity further. As a further measure, available capacity is being identified in other hospitals and some children are being transferred for their surgery, where it is considered clinically appropriate for them. The Children's Hospital Group, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and the HSE are working together on an ongoing basis to identify all options to increase capacity further.
In relation to the particular patient query raised by you, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up with them.
546. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the report by the expert group that assessed the application for the inclusion of I-Port Advance to the list of reimbursable items in the general medical services scheme and the community drugs scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23058/15]
View answerThe 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; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
547. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason construction has not commenced on the approved two-storey building for South Tipperary General Hospital (details supplied) despite a commitment that the build would be completed by November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23059/15]
View answerYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the delivery of the health care infrastructure is a service matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office who will follow up on the matter.
548. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form a county statistical analysis of those presenting for eating-related disorders, by type of disorder; by male and female; the strategies in place to deal with this crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23061/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
549. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason a company (details supplied) initially developed the drug Isotretinoin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23069/15]
View answer550. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the precise date Roaccutane was first marketed here; the authorisation agreement in place and to name those involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23070/15]
View answer551. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the total number of prescriptions written for Roaccutane each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23074/15]
View answer552. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason Roaccutane was newly authorised, in view of reports of adverse drug reactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23077/15]
View answer553. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the date of the first adverse drug reaction report in connection with Roaccutane reported to the Health Products Regulatory Authority; if he will supply this report by age, gender and year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23078/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 549 to 553, inclusive, together.
No information is available on the reasons the company initially developed the drug Isotretinion.
Roaccutane was first authorised for use in Ireland on 19 April 1983. The date of first marketing of the product is unknown as companies are not obliged to supply that information.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for the administration of the GMS and Community Drugs Schemes. Only data on the number of prescriptions written for Roaccutane under the GMS and Community Drugs Schemes can be provided by the HSE. This matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Renewal of authorised medicines including Roaccutane are based on the benefit/risk profile at the time of authorisation, updated with new information from use of the product (including reported adverse reactions) since the original authorisation date. Renewal of the authorisation is granted if the benefits are still considered to outweigh its risks when the product is used in accordance with the approved product information, including any risk mitigation measures. The authorisation for Roaccutane was last renewed on 10 July 2009 for an unlimited period, in accordance with EU legislation. As with all other medicines, it remains subject to ongoing review of the benefit/risk profile as new information from national, European and global experience is received.
The first adverse drug reaction report in connection with Roaccutane was reported to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) on 31 March 1986 by a male patient whose age is unknown. It should be noted that this patient was also taking vitamin B complex. Detailed information relating to this and all other adverse reactions reported to the HPRA was forwarded to the Deputy on 26 May 2015.
555. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if national lottery funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23112/15]
View answerMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations providing a range of health related services. Funding in 2015 amounts to €3.286m.
My Department has received a large number of applications under the National Lottery Discretionary Fund which are currently being processed. However, there is no record of having received an application from the organisation referred to by the Deputy.
556. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who cannot receive access to ultraviolet light treatment for the skin condition psoriasis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23113/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
557. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical appointment for an urgent surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23116/15]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
