Written Answers Nos. 466-479
466. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the decisions he has made regarding the funding of Orkambi, a medicine that, according to reports, has improved the lives and conditions of cystic fibrosis sufferers; if he will ensure sufferers can access it through the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46229/15]
View answer477. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health his plans for the approval of Orkambi for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, given its recent approval by the European Medicines Agency. [46347/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 477 together.
The 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 (NCPE). They are not political or ministerial decisions. The NCPE conducts the health technology assessment of pharmaceutical products for the HSE, and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Orkambi™, submitted a Rapid Review application for the drug to the NCPE on 26 November 2015. The company is expected to submit a full pricing and reimbursement application to the HSE/Primary Care Reimbursement Service in the immediate future.
Once this application is received, it will be considered by the HSE in line with criteria set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 and using the processes outlined in national pricing framework agreements.
467. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the number of appointments to State boards under the aegis of his Department and the number of appointments that have been advertised on his Department's website since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46256/15]
View answerThe nomination and appointment process for boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in legislation. In line with Government Decision S180/20/10/1617 of 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relating to the advertising for expressions of interest in vacancies on State Boards, my Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service currently advertises for board vacancies as they arise, where I, as Minister for Health, have nominating rights under relevant legislation. The notices about forthcoming vacancies are advertised on the stateboards.ie website and are also placed on my Department's website.
There have been over 700 appointments made under the aegis of my Department since March 2011, of which 360 positions were filled through the advertising process. There are some exceptions to the advertising process. For example, the members of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal are appointed by the Minister, on the advice of the Attorney General, as these members carry out a very specific role in relation to assessing the quantum of awards under the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act. In 2012 and 2013 in the case of some hospital boards, e.g. Beaumont and St James’s, the term of existing members was extended as a prudent provisional measure, to allow time for appropriate competencies required in members of these boards to be set out, given the Health Reform Programme and its impact on hospital configuration. Appointments of the new board members were subsequently advertised.
Many appointments have been made on the nomination of other bodies as specified in legislation, or were re-appointments. It should be noted that there were no advertising campaigns in 2011, but 34 appointments were made where the Minister had nominating rights. It should also be noted that there are several campaigns ongoing with appointments pending.
468. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards under the aegis of his Department who have appeared before the relevant Oireachtas joint committee since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46271/15]
View answerOn 30 September 2014 the Government announced further substantial reforms to the appointment system for Board members, building on the model established in 2011, under which all appointments should:
a) be advertised openly on the State Boards website portal operated by the Public Appointments Service (PAS);
b) meet specific and detailed criteria determined necessary for the effective performance of the Board; and
c) be processed by way of a transparent assessment system designed and implemented by the independent Public Appointments Service (PAS).
The Guidelines published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2014 also stated that persons being proposed by Ministers for appointment as Chairpersons of State Bodies/Agencies were required to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to discuss the approach they would take in their role as Chairperson and their views about the future contribution of the body or Board in question, before they would be formally appointed by the Minister.
Prior to the September 2014 Government Decision, just one Chairperson Designate from an agency under the aegis of my Department appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. However, since that date all Chairpersons Designate have appeared. The Chairpersons Designate in question were from the Boards of the Health Information Quality Authority, Dublin Dental Hospital, Leopardstown Park Hospital, Irish Blood Transfusion Service and the Voluntary Health Insurance Board. The Chairperson Designate of the Health Products Regulatory Authority is scheduled to appear before the Oireachtas Committee in January 2016.
469. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the details of the Acts currently in force for which he has lead responsibility and that have Parts or sections yet to be formally commenced, including the purpose of same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46286/15]
View answerInformation is set out in the following table on provisions not yet commenced in Acts under the aegis of my Department and enacted since March 2011.
|
Name of Act |
Detail or purpose of sections not yet commenced |
Status |
|
Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 |
Sections 4(2), 9(2)(g)(ii), 37(2)(a), 39,40,41,44,45, 59(1)(b) re professional competence, 59(2)(d), 65(1)(b), 84, 87 – 91, 102(2),(3),(5), 103. |
This is a comprehensive piece of legislation which is being commenced on a gradual basis. |
|
Health (Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Act 2013 |
Section 4 - Amendment of section 47 of Health Act 1970 (Appeals). |
Pending the establishment of an effective date for this provision. |
|
Health (Amendment) Act 2013 |
Section 4 - Amendment to Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 Sections 7(e)(ii) - Amendment to Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 and sections 8,9,10,11(b),12, 19 - Amendments to Health Act 1970 |
Section 4 allows outsourcing of Scheme but no policy yet to outsource. Preparations for commencement of other sections are at an advanced stage. |
|
Public Health (Sunbeds) Act 2014 |
Section 14 - Training requirements for sunbed businesses. |
For development. |
|
Health Identifiers Act 2014 |
Sections 7(2)to (6), 10 (1)(a),(2) and (3), 11 (1) to (5),(6)(b) to (f), (7), 12 to 20, 24, 35 to 39 - for use and access to the register of Individual Health Identifiers, establishing and operation the register of Health Service Provider Identifiers and related matters. |
This is a comprehensive Act which is being commenced on a phased basis. |
|
Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2014 |
Sections 2, 3(a) and 9 - Amendments to Health Act 1970 and other issues. |
Pending the establishment of an effective date for these provisions. |
|
Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 |
Sections 6(a)(iii), 12(b), insofar as it relates to the insertion of subsection (1B) of section 26 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005; sections 21 and 23. Section 6(a)(iii), part of section 12(b) and section 21 relate to the proposed division of the profession of radiographer into the two professions of radiographer and radiation therapist. Section 23 provides for conditions to be attached to the registration of a person with a relevant medical disability. Sections 41-44 - Amendments to Health Act 1970 |
The commencement of section 6(a)(iii), part of section 12(b) and section 21 is awaiting the registration of radiographers by the Radiographers Registration Board. The registration system is being updated to allow section 23 to be commenced. Preparations for commencement of these sections are at an advanced stage. |
|
Protection of Children's Health (Tobacco Smoke in Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) Act 2014 |
Will be commenced on 1 January 2016. |
Not applicable |
|
Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015 |
Not yet commenced. |
To be commenced in line with the Tobacco Products Directive in May 2016. |
|
Health (General Practitioner Service) Act 2015 |
Sections 2 and 3(a) - Amendments of the Health Act 1970 |
Pending clarification of issues. |
470. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the details of the model 2, 3 and 4 hospitals in each hospital group, indicating whether each model 2 hospital is a model 2D, a model 2S or a model 2R hospital, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46336/15]
View answerThe Smaller Hospitals Framework outlines the need for smaller hospitals and larger hospitals to work together within hospital groups. It identifies the need for smaller hospitals to be supported within the hospital group in terms of education and training, continuous professional development, the sustainable recruitment of high quality clinical staff and the safe management of deteriorating and complex patients. The Framework also outlines in detail the wide range of services that can be provided within the smaller hospital and that can transferred from the larger to smaller hospitals within the hospital group.
The reorganisation of hospitals into more efficient and accountable hospital groups will ensure that all hospitals will play a vital role in service delivery. As hospital groups develop their strategic plans a key requirement will be the development of a more a co-ordinated approach to the planning and delivery of services in the range of hospitals in the group, and across the hospital groups, with an increased focus on small hospitals managing routine urgent or planned care locally and true emergency or complex planned care managed in the larger hospitals where all the relevant clinical expertise can be provided.
In relation to the details of the models of hospitals in each group, 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.
471. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of beds and wards in hospitals (details supplied); the number of these that are currently closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46337/15]
View answerAdditional funding of €18 million has been provided to support the acute hospital system over the winter period by providing additional bed capacity and other initiatives to support access to care.
A further 301 beds are being added to support the acute hospital system over the winter period across various locations. As of 16 December, 174 of these beds are now open with a further 69 to open by year end.
As of 16 December, a total of 111 hospital beds which had been closed for refurbishment or for infection control purposes during 2015 have been re-opened, with further beds opening in January 2016.
As the specific numbers of beds and wards closed in individual hospitals 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.
472. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards as of 1 December 2015; the number of general practitioner cards on the same date; the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date; and the number for each type of card assigned to over 70s on that date. [46341/15]
View answerThe following are medical and GP visit card figures at 1 December 2015, as requested by the Deputy:
|
Card Type |
Total Cards |
Of which over - 70s |
|
Medical cards |
1,732,555 |
332,894 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
97,562 |
8,017 |
|
GP Visit cards |
424,862 |
78,154 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
40,749 |
37 |
475. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when he received the international evidence review on independent hospital trusts undertaken by the Health Research Board at his request; when he will publish it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46345/15]
View answerA literature review of Independent Hospital Trusts was requested from the Health Research Board by my Department in 2011 to inform policy development. Following peer review, it was agreed that the original literature review should be supplemented by additional case studies, with appropriate material for integration into the literature review identified. The literature review was submitted to the Board of the HRB for consideration in September. Following approval by the Board, it was published on the HRB's website on 22 October 2015.
476. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the progress made in implementing each of the 31 recommendations in the 2011 Health Service Executive report Time to Move on from Congregated Settings; the timeframe for fully implementing its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46346/15]
View answerThe HSE’s report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”, (2011) proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community, over a seven year time frame. The plan will be rolled out at a regional and local level and will involve full consultation.
In terms of housing, the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are working in collaboration to support the transition of people with a disability from institutions to social housing in the community under the Government's National Housing Strategy for People with Disability 2011 to 2016.
As part of the implementation process, in 2013 and 2014 one million euro was transferred from the Department of Health’s Vote to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s Vote to provide for the ring-fenced social housing costs of up to 150 people leaving disability or mental health institutions. At the end of December 2014, it is estimated that there were around 3,000 people with a disability living in congregated settings. The HSE has prioritised the transition of 150 people from congregated settings in 2015. In 2015, one million euro has been allocated to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to continue this process.
As the HSE is responsible for leading out on the recommendations on “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion”, 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, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
478. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the public and voluntary hospitals that carry out magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, scans and the number of persons waiting for this scan for up to three, three plus to six, six plus to nine, nine plus to 12 and 12 plus months, at each of these hospitals, as of 10 December 2015 or the nearest available date, in tabular form. [46349/15]
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.
479. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the public and voluntary hospitals that carry out computed tomography, CT, scans and the number of persons waiting for this scan for up to three, three plus to six, six plus to nine, nine plus to 12 and 12 plus months, at each of these hospitals, as of 10 December 2015 or the nearest available date, in tabular form. [46350/15]
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.
