Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 May 2017
203. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there is a contingency plan in place in order that smaller hospitals that do not have compounding capabilities and do not run out of chemotherapy drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25261/17]
View answerThe vast majority of anti-cancer medications are made in the Aseptic Compounding Units (ACUs) in hospitals. There is one external manufacturer in Ireland who supplies approximately 15% of compounded chemotherapy preparations to hospitals in Ireland. This licensed manufacturer is subject to regulatory oversight by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
Should there be an issue in relation to the supply of anti-cancer medications, contingency plans can be implemented under the direction of the National Cancer Control Programme. Contingency measures include: the compounding of chemotherapy in the hospitals which have ACUs, inter-hospital cooperation within hospital groups, the ordering of medications from licensed manufacturers outside of the country, or the preparation of certain medications at ward level or in the pharmacy department in hospitals.
The recent chemotherapy supply issues relate to manufacturing problems experienced by the Irish supplier of compounded chemotherapy preparations. Under the direction of the NCCP, hospitals implemented the above contingency measures in order to minimise the impact on patients.
The production of chemotherapy products resumed on Monday 22 May. Contingency plans will remain in place in affected hospitals until full service is resumed. The NCCP will continue to monitor the situation closely over the coming days to ensure that any disruption to patients is minimised.
The HSE has also indicated it intends to conduct a needs assessment for local compounding requirements at the hospitals providing chemotherapy services. This will inform the options on improving internal HSE resilience in the short, medium and long term.
