Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
508. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will review and consider adding new low-protein products to the long-term illness card for persons that have been diagnosed as having PKU, a rare metabolic disorder which requires a very low-protein diet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36915/16]
View answer515. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will add new low-protein products to the long-term illness card list due to the discontinuation of products which had been on the list previously (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36946/16]
View answer516. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health to indicate the last time low-protein products have been added to the long-term illness card list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36947/16]
View answer544. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to immediately engage with the PKU Association of Ireland in view of the fact that PKU is a rare metabolic disorder which requires a low-protein diet and prescribed low-protein foods are a key part of the diet due to its limited nature (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37169/16]
View answer579. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no products have been added to the long-term illness card for persons with PKU in approximately six years; if he will consider the introduction of new low-protein food products for patients of PKU; if so, when these products will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/16]
View answer580. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the genetic disease HCU. [37469/16]
View answer592. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns by many persons with PKU at the lack of suitable food products available on the market here while many are available in other EU countries; if the clinical nutritional expert group within the HSE has called for new applications for the addition of new food products to the reimbursement list; and if this will be completed by the end of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37521/16]
View answer612. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that prescribed low-protein foods are required to prevent neurological damage and to supplement the diet of adults and children with phenylketonuria (PKU) and homocystenuria (HCU); if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that no new low-protein products have been added to the long-term illness card list in more than six years; if he will ensure a full and appropriate updated list of foods prescribed for PKU and HCU is added to the reimbursement list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37643/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 508, 515, 516, 544, 579, 580, 592 and 612 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of products under the community drug schemes, including the LTI Scheme, 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 reply to the Deputy.
