Written Answers Nos. 607-624
607. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount spent by the Health Service Executive on biosimilar medicines in each of the years from 2010 to 2014, and its estimated expenditure in 2015; his views on the increased use of biosimilars within the Irish health care service; the measures he plans to introduce to facilitate this increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28700/15]
View answer608. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to increasing the use of biosimilar medicines as a means of reducing or containing the State’s annual medicines bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28701/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 608 together.
The use of biotechnology in the pharmaceutical field has led to the development of many new biological medicines, offering new treatments for a range of serious illnesses.
The manufacturing of a biological medicine is a complex process. Biosimilar medicines are similar but not identical to their reference biological medicines, and therefore are not considered in the same way as generic medicines. Under the Heath (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, biosimilars are not considered to be interchangeable, and therefore cannot be substituted for biological medicines.
It is likely that the use of biosimilar medicines will grow in Ireland in the coming years as the patents on biological medicines expire. However, promoting the increased use of biosimilar medicines must be carefully considered, and issues such as prescribing practices around biosimilars are currently under consideration by the Department.
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; therefore, the specific questions raised by the Deputy have been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply.
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.
609. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the drug trastuzumab emtansine, TDM1, also known as ado-trastuzumab emtansine, KADCYLA; if the Health Service Executive will consider funding this new treatment which can prolong life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28729/15]
View answerThe 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. Prior to reimbursing any medicine, the HSE considers a range of statutory criteria including clinical need, cost-effectiveness and the resources available to the HSE.
The decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. They are not political or ministerial decisions.
The HSE received an application for the inclusion of trastuzumab emtansine or TDM1 (brand name Kadcyla) 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 for the assessment of new medicines.
In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of trastuzumab emtansine and concluded that it was unable to recommend reimbursement of the product at the price submitted by the manufacturer, Roche Products (Ireland) Ltd.
The Report by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics is an important input to assist the HSE in its decision making process and informs further discussions between the HSE and the supplier. No further comment can be provided at this time as the assessment process is ongoing.
610. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence regarding the case of a person (details supplied). [28735/15]
View answerI have no direct role in this matter. However I understand that this case was before an independent arbitrator in 2004/2005, and that subsequently a settlement was reached in the Labour Relations Commission
611. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a home care package in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [28736/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
613. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health regarding the decrease of 6,178 persons in June 2015 in the number on the outpatient waiting list for more than 12 months at Waterford University Hospital, the number of the 6,178 who were seen by a consultant in Waterford University Hospital; the number who were provided with an appointment elsewhere; if such an alternative arrangement was public or private; the number who were deemed to be no longer waiting on an appointment; if he is satisfied that the May 2015 figure of 10,886 was a true and accurate reflection of the number waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment in the hospital in that month. [28753/15]
View answerAs 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.
614. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health regarding the decrease of 2,388 persons in June 2015 in the number on the outpatient waiting list for more than 12 months at South Infirmary Victoria Hospital in County Cork, the number of the 2,388 who were seen by a consultant in the hospital; the number who were provided with an appointment elsewhere; if such an alternative arrangement was public or private; the number who were deemed to be no longer waiting on an appointment; and if he is satisfied that the May 2015 figure of 5,899 was a true and accurate reflection of the numbers waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment in the hospital in that month. [28754/15]
View answerAs 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.
615. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to the decrease of 2,049 persons in June 2015 in the number on the outpatient waiting list for more than 12 months at Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, the number of the 2,049 who were seen by a consultant in the hospital; the number who were provided with an appointment elsewhere; if such an alternative arrangement was public or private; the number who were deemed to be no longer waiting on an appointment; and if he is satisfied that the May 2015 figure of 5,727 was a true and accurate reflection of the numbers waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment in the hospital in that month. [28755/15]
View answerAs 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.
616. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 617 of 26 May 2015, regarding the provision of residential respite to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder in counties Laois and Offaly, if he will provide the relevant locations and a detailed breakdown of the number of bed nights for children and adults with the disorder in each of the seven residential respite facilities mentioned and which are run by Muiríosa, RehabCare, Daughters of Charity and Delta; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of bed nights for children and adults with an intellectual disability in the same seven residential respite locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28758/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
617. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 152 of 14 May 2015 and 621 and 622 of 26 May 2015, regarding the provision of disability services to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder in counties Laois and Offaly, if he will confirm to which county and to which team the additional psychologist, occupational therapist and two speech and language therapists have been allocated; the date on which the new staff took up their posts; and the date on which they commenced their clinical work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28759/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
618. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 408 of 23 June 2015 and 443 of 30 June 2015 and the replies from the Health Service Executive of 3 July and 4 July 2015, his views on the executive providing neither dates nor timeframes for appointments for critical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans; whether this treatment of patients is acceptable practice by Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28760/15]
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 your further query on this 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.
620. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, for each regional administrative area, the number of school leavers or other young adults with special needs waiting for new or enhanced day service places from September 2015; the number informed of their placements by 30 June 2015; the number still waiting; when they will be informed of their placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28804/15]
View answerAdditional funding of €6 million (at a full year cost of €12 million) was allocated by the Health Service Executive this year to meet the needs of around 1,500 young people who will require continuing health-funded supports. An additional €1.5 million has since been added by the HSE to the overall allocation, making a total of €13.5 million full-year costs to meet the needs of this cohort of young people. A further €1.5 million once-off capital funding is also being allocated by the HSE for the provision of suitable buildings, premises and accommodation.
The HSE, through its Occupational Guidance Service, works with schools, service providers, young people with disabilities and their families to identify training needs and explore suitable options. The provision of services to school-leavers and rehabilitative training graduates is challenging each year as the number of individuals requiring health funded supports continues to increase year on year.
As the Deputy's question requests specific information regarding service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
621. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health as part of his Department’s capital expenditure plan, if he will provide funding for a new hospital in Cork, as recommended in the report Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital Services, Cork and Kerry by the non-executive advisory board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28813/15]
View answerThe report Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital Services Cork and Kerry recommended a new elective hospital for Cork which would amalgamate Mercy and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospitals. It was recommended that the hospital should be built in a modular fashion, over a 10 to 15 year period. My Department's view is that any such development is very much a long term aspiration, and the need for same will have to be prioritised by the HSE in the context of other capital requirements around the country.
622. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason coeliac disease is not registered as a disease with the national disease register; his views on re-instating it on the drugs payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28815/15]
View answerThe Department of Health is not aware of the existence of a National Disease Register, or of a national register for coeliac disease.
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 faces a continuing challenge to deliver services in a way that will minimise any adverse impact on patients and continue to protect, as far as possible, the most vulnerable citizens. Unfortunately, as a result it has become necessary for the HSE to suspend certain products from its list of items reimbursable under the GMS and other community drug schemes. This includes gluten-free products.
Gluten-free products have become more widely available in supermarkets in recent years and tend to be significantly cheaper than products sold through community pharmacies. There are no plans to reinstate these products on the list of reimbursable items under the GMS and other community drug schemes.
623. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the available specialist services or supports that are available for persons who are under 65 years of age and who have Alzheimer's disease or dementia, by county. [28817/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
624. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans for an island-of-Ireland approach to a class action against the tobacco industry for its promotion of the use of an addictive product that has and continues to contribute directly to the premature death of over 5,000 Irish citizens annually and that costs the very stretched health budget in excess of an estimated €1 billion every year; his plans to raise the proposal with his Northern Executive counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28819/15]
View answerAs the Deputy has pointed out, smoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland, killing over 5,200 people a year. Figures from the National Office for Tobacco Control indicate that the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking in Ireland during 2014 was 19.5%.
However, I am pleased to say that Ireland has been in the forefront of tobacco control legislation in Europe, and ranked second of thirty-four European countries in relation to tobacco control initiatives. Tobacco Free Ireland, the latest policy in the area, sets a target for Ireland to be tobacco free by 2025. In practice, this will mean a smoking prevalence rate of less than 5%. The two key themes underpinning the report are protecting children and the denormalisation of smoking.
A high level Tobacco Free Ireland Action Plan was published in March 2015. It outlines the responsibilities, actions necessary and timelines for the implementation of the recommendations in Tobacco Free Ireland.
While the Government has no plans at present for the type of legal action the Deputy describes, tobacco control is one of the areas on which we have ongoing dialogue and co-operation with our colleagues in Northern Ireland under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council. Officials working in the area in my Department are also in regular informal contact with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland on tobacco related issues.
