Written Answers Nos. 197-207
197. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his plans for pharmaceutical standard products to be given priority over non-standardised, non-pharmaceutical products (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12252/17]
View answerUnder European and Irish legislation, before a medicine can be placed on the Irish market the manufacturer has to seek an authorisation from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) or in the case of certain medicinal products, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
A determination on an application for authorisation of a medicine is based on a rigorous scientific assessment of the application against the criteria of safety, quality, efficacy, legal and regulatory requirements.
Physicians treating a particular medical condition should opt for an authorised medicinal product(s) that has received approval for use in that specific clinical condition unless that product is contra-indicated or deemed to be clinically inappropriate for that particular patient, or where the product is no longer marketed or not available.
In the event that no authorised medicinal product is available or when authorised medicinal products are not considered to be appropriate for use in that patient, a physician may deem it appropriate to prescribe an unauthorised medicinal product for an unmet medical need for their patient. Ultimately this will be a clinical decision to be agreed between the physician and her or her patient.
198. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application by a person (details supplied) for a wheelchair. [12262/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
199. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons with intellectual disabilities awaiting respite beds in County Wexford; the plans that will be put in place to accommodate those on the waiting list in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12263/17]
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.
As 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.
200. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if care managed units are obliged to accept maximum dependency patients when a bed is available; the recourse a family has that is refused a bed due to the level of dependency of the patient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12264/17]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a system of financial support for people who require long-term nursing home care. Anyone who is assessed as requiring long-term nursing home care can avail of the scheme, regardless of age. Individuals can choose any public, voluntary or approved private nursing home. However, in order for financial support to be provided, the home must have an available bed and, not least in the person's interests, be able to cater for the person's particular needs. The local Nursing Homes Support Office can advise an applicant and/or their family on the options that are available to them.
201. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of times that the full capacity protocol has been deployed at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in 2016. [12267/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
202. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his and the HSE's plans to revisit the issue of reimbursement of Sativex in view of the recent Health Products Regulatory Authority's report on medicinal cannabis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12268/17]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the reimbursement of approved products in Ireland and suppliers of such products must apply to the HSE for reimbursement approval.
In 2014, the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 were amended to allow for certain cannabis-based medicinal products to be used in Ireland. The Health Products Regulatory Authority subsequently granted a marketing authorisation for the cannabis-based medicinal product Sativex to be marketed in this State.
I am advised that, following receipt of an application from the supplier for the inclusion of Sativex on the High Tech Scheme, a health technology assessment report on Sativex by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics did not recommend reimbursement at the submitted price. The HSE issued the manufacturers with notice of its intention not to reimburse. It is open to the supplier to make a new application for this product, in the context of the previous findings.
203. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in a matter (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the facility has to turn persons away that are members of a company due to this refusal and that these persons have nowhere else to turn to in the region; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the facility is struggling to maintain its staffing levels due to this refusal; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this refusal is contrary to EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12274/17]
View answerHealth Insurance companies including VHI operate as commercial providers and as Minister for Health, I have no legal power to intervene in relation to their commercial decisions.
I am advised by VHI that in order to be approved for health insurance coverage, providers of new facilities must be independently accredited for quality purposes and either:
(a) demonstrate that they meet an important medical need which is not met by existing facilities and do so at competitive cost relative to those of providers of facilities that can be reasonably be compared with them; or
(b) provide medical services at prices which are sufficiently competitive as may enable VHI to obtain lower prices for such services generally in a significant area.
The VHI's initial assessment is that its criteria has not been satisfied but they are meeting with the applicants again to discuss the issue further.
204. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the process for parents of children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance to receive medical cards; and if this introduction will extend to waivers for State examination fees for this academic year. [12275/17]
View answer251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when it is expected that the medical cards will be approved for all children currently in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12413/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 251 together.
The Health (Amendment) Bill 2017 was published on Thursday 2nd March 2017. This Bill will enable the granting of full eligibility for general practitioner and other health services to all children in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is paid. Granting a medical card to all children in respect of whom a DCA payment is made will benefit approximately 9,800 children in this cohort who do not currently qualify for a medical card. The legislation is scheduled to enter the Dail this evening, Wednesday, 8th March 2017, and it is hoped to complete all stages before the end of March.
The HSE is also finalising the administration processes that need to be in place so that the proposal can be implemented in a smooth and efficient manner. It has been working to produce both a paper-based and online pre-registration system which is expected to be available on the 1st May 2017 ahead of a go-live date of the 1st June 2017.
Eligibility for a DCA medical card will also provide cover for other benefits which are covered by a regular medical card, including the waiving of examination fees. Whether the waivers for examination fees for this academic year are covered would be a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
How the new DCA medical card will work:
- For a child in receipt of DCA but who currently does not have a medical card, the parent or guardian will register for the scheme either online or through a paper-based form.
- For a child who is currently eligible for a medical card (under discretion or otherwise) and is confirmed to be in receipt of DCA, the HSE will automatically issue them a medical card.
- For a child who is currently eligible for a GP Visit Card (under discretion or otherwise), this card will automatically be upgraded to a full medical card.
205. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the HSE compiles figures on misdiagnosed cases in regard to mental health; if so, the procedures in place to carry out reviews of these misdiagnosed cases; if there is a record history kept for each psychiatrist or psychologist that makes a wrong diagnosis in order that this information is available to a specialist supervisory panel as part of these reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12287/17]
View answerAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
206. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of increasing the number of hospital beds per 1,000 of the population from the current level of less than 4 to 4.6; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12288/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
207. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the cost of a hospital bed; the fully absorbed cost of a hospital bed including staff, ancillary services and running costs; the capital costs associated with opening new beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12289/17]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
