Written Answers Nos. 206-217
206. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for the rapid HIV testing service (details supplied); if his Department plans to fund this service in view of its successful pilot; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6565/17]
View answerThe National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020 was launched in October 2015. The strategy was developed in response to a recommendation of the National AIDS Strategy Committee on the need to establish clear leadership within the health sector around the area of sexual health. The Strategy contains 71 recommendations that address all aspects of sexual health and a Sexual Health Action Plan for 2015-2016 that contains 18 priority actions for immediate attention.
One of the priority actions identified in the Action Plan for 2016 is to 'Prioritise, develop and implement guidance to support clinical decision making for STI testing, screening and treatment and on the appropriate use of antiretroviral therapy in HIV prevention’. An Implementation Group has now been established within the HSE as an outcome of this action. This group will make recommendations on the appropriate use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the overall context of the national approach to HIV prevention.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE for a direct reply to issue to the deputy.
207. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) regarding care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6566/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if details of all hospital consultants outpatient waiting lists will be made publicly available on the grounds of transparency and to ensure the public have a choice in respect to the shortest waiting lists. [6581/17]
View answerThe NTPF maintains national waiting list data for outpatients and inpatient / day cases. These data are published monthly on the NTPF website. Since April 2015, the NTPF has published waiting list data for both the Outpatient and the Inpatient / Day Case waiting list by hospital and by specialty.
The HIQA Report and Recommendations on Patient Referrals from General Practice to Outpatient and Radiology Services, including the National Standard for Patient Referral Information published in 2011 makes a number of recommendation in relation to Secondary Care Referral Management Systems, including that GP should address referrals in the first instance to a central point within a hospital, then to the relevant specialty/service, followed by named consultant if relevant. The report indicates that international evidence suggests that, where possible, patient referrals should be processed at specialty level, with re-allocation of referrals to the consultant within a specialty with the most appropriate experience and training to manage the patient.
In addition, the HSE National Framework for operation and management of Outpatient Departments published in 2013 recommends that referral to a named consultant should be treated as general to the specialty involved, unless it is more appropriate for a particular patient to be managed by a specific consultant.
With regard to the Outpatient waiting lists, the HSE operates a portal for hospital consultants to be able to view and manage their lists. This information is not placed in the public domain. Publication of waiting lists by consultant raises potential patient confidentiality issues and is not in line with the aim of hospitals and Hospital Groups to move to maintaining single waiting lists for different procedures and in different specialties to improve scheduling and equity.
209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a recent article (details supplied); the rationale behind the 30% clause within the drug pricing agreement; the way this clause was negotiated; his views on concerns raised by the healthcare enterprise alliance in June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6595/17]
View answer210. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to encourage prescription of generic and biosimilars when there are equivalent drugs on the market at less than 30% lower cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6596/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 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, offering opportunities for the State to make further savings on the cost of medicines. The Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines 2016-2020 with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association includes a provision to take advantage of these new developments in the pharmaceutical industry. Under the new Agreement the price of a biologic medicine will be reduced by 20% and an additional rebate of 12.5% provided upon entry into the market of a biosimilar.
This component of the Agreement was considered in detail by the State negotiating team. The State team’s view, which was confirmed by our international consultants, was that this provision strikes the appropriate balance between reducing the originator price and enticing new entrants into the market.
Officials in my Department are currently assessing the whole area of biosimilar medicines and are developing a national biosimilar policy. This will require consideration of a range of regulatory, patient safety and health policy issues as well as an examination of different policy levers and tools that might be implemented in Ireland in order to increase the uptake of biosimilars in the health system in the coming years.
My officials will be working with the Health Products Regulatory Authority and the HSE to progress this agenda and will also examine the need for any legislative changes in this area.
211. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if consideration can be given to the provision of day and respite services to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6620/17]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
Budget 2017 includes an increased allocation to the Disability Services Programme to address a number of key priorities in the Programme for Partnership Government. The allocation for disability services will rise to over €1.654bn in 2017, an increase of €92 million on the Budget 2016 allocation.
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) qualifies for dental benefit and for their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6625/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
213. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a home help support package will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6627/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
214. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6415/17]
View answerThe application of the person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
The original GLAS contract was approved for transfer to the person named from a relative. An issue arose in relation to bank accounts. An official from my Department was in direct contact with the person named on 13 January 2017 concerning this matter and it was confirmed by the person named that the payment had been received by them.
215. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received GLAS payments. [6446/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of the 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified with the Commonage action. Department officials are examining this issue with a view to resolving and further processing the application for payment at the earliest opportunity.
216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6453/17]
View answerThe Person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1 September 2011. Payments issued for the 2011-2015 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As all AEOS 2 participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. Officials are working through these files and payment will be made as soon as possible.
217. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received an AEOS payment; the number of persons per county that are awaiting payment; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6474/17]
View answerThe Person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1 September 2011. Payments issued for the 2011-2015 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As all AEOS 2 participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. Officials are working through these files and payment will be made as soon as possible.
|
County |
Totals |
Paid |
Awaiting Payment |
|
Carlow |
49 |
39 |
10 |
|
Cavan |
244 |
191 |
53 |
|
Clare |
556 |
454 |
102 |
|
Cork |
428 |
285 |
143 |
|
Donegal |
1360 |
1,031 |
329 |
|
Dublin |
9 |
8 |
1 |
|
Galway |
1245 |
907 |
338 |
|
Kerry |
568 |
418 |
150 |
|
Kildare |
39 |
25 |
14 |
|
Kilkenny |
109 |
60 |
49 |
|
Laois |
80 |
46 |
34 |
|
Leitrim |
430 |
315 |
115 |
|
Limerick |
224 |
138 |
86 |
|
Longford |
89 |
56 |
33 |
|
Louth |
41 |
26 |
15 |
|
Mayo |
1399 |
921 |
478 |
|
Meath |
83 |
52 |
31 |
|
Monaghan |
151 |
89 |
62 |
|
Offaly |
110 |
76 |
34 |
|
Roscommon |
478 |
351 |
127 |
|
Sligo |
335 |
233 |
102 |
|
Tipperary |
245 |
145 |
100 |
|
Waterford |
82 |
57 |
25 |
|
Westmeath |
122 |
77 |
45 |
|
Wexford |
84 |
45 |
39 |
|
Wicklow |
80 |
55 |
25 |
|
Totals |
8640 |
6,100 |
2,540 |
