Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2020
168. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if patients with ATTR amyloidosis can access the new treatment for the disease at a hospital (details supplied) under the cross-Border initiative or treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16365/20]
View answerThe Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) allows public patients to be referred to another EU/EEA country for treatment, in their public healthcare system, that is not available in Ireland, subject to qualifying criteria. A patient's Irish based consultant is responsible for referring the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS, after having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within Ireland. The treatment must be among the benefits provided for by Irish legislation. Also, the treatment must be a proven form of medical treatment and not experimental or trial treatment. The HSE provides information for patients on the TAS on its website.
In general, the HSE does not provide access to drug therapies which are not provided by the public healthcare system in Ireland under the TAS. However, I am advised by the HSE that in the case of treatments provided by the National Amyloidosis Centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London a patient can make an application to the HSE's TAS. Each application is dealt with by the HSE on an individual basis and subject to independent medical advice.
