Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2019
352. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health his plans to expand and overhaul the high-tech medicines scheme of the HSE in order to allow for more medicines to be on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20756/19]
View answerThe High Tech Arrangement, which is in place since 1996, provides for the supply and dispensing of high tech medicines through community pharmacies. The medicines are purchased by the HSE and supplied through community pharmacies for which pharmacies are paid a patient care fee by the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service each month.
These arrangements are designed to provide a quality community based service to patients, by ensuring the active involvement of community pharmacists in the dispensing of high tech medicines, that were previously supplied in the main through hospitals or Community Health Offices.
The High Tech Drug and Management System, which went live in March 2018, is kept under constant review by the HSE. It is a centralised ordering system which provides greatly improved governance and probity in the purchase and supply of these very expensive medicines.
