Written Answers Nos. 2142-2160
2142. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints in relation to visiting restrictions in nursing homes received by HIQA and the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19957/21]
View answerHIQA have informed me that since 1/3/2020 HIQA has received 250 concerns in relation to visiting restrictions in nursing homes. I have asked the HSE to reply to Deputy directly on whether it has received any complaints in relation to visiting restrictions.
New visitation guidance was published on 12 March and came into effect on 22 March 2021. The new guidance incorporates early learning from the positive impact of the vaccine rollout nationally and internationally and provides enhanced opportunity for visiting in nursing homes across all levels of the Government’s Plan “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead”.
At its meeting on 11 March, the NPHET committed to reviewing visiting guidance in one month’s time. The HPSC is currently finalising new visiting guidance, with a view to it being reviewed by NPHET this week.
2143. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect an appointment for orthodontic treatment. [19959/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2144. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in signing an agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19964/21]
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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2145. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in Covid-19 vaccine group 1 who are housebound that are still waiting to receive their vaccination from the National Ambulance Service as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19965/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2147. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he has received or sought legal advice from the Attorney General or otherwise on the legality of denying vaccinated residents of long-term residential care facilities the rights to family life, such as regular visits from family and general freedom of movement, for example, meeting family in a garden and making a trip with family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19973/21]
View answerThe impact of Covid-19 on society in general and especially those living in nursing homes has been considerable. The importance of continued social interaction of residents and their families cannot be overstated and every effort should be made, in line with public health advice, to ensure that these interactions continue.
Notwithstanding this, it is also important to be cognisant of the wider epidemiological situation and the risks associated with same. Public health restrictive measures have been applied at different stages during the pandemic to protect public health. Ireland remains in Level 5 of the ‘Framework for Restrictive Measures in Response to Covid-19’ and due to the high level of disease and continuing risks associated with Covid-19, population wide measures remain in place.
It is also important to note that while there is strong evidence that vaccines protect against severe illness and death, the evidence base in relation to the effect of vaccine in preventing a person from acquiring infection and from subsequently transmitting the virus to others is still emerging. There is also uncertainty in relation to the effectiveness of the vaccines against some new variants of the virus. Therefore caution remains appropriate at this time.
Nursing home providers are ultimately responsible for the safe care of their residents. Under Regulation 11 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 it is the legal responsibility of each registered provider to make arrangements for a resident to receive visitors, having regard to any risks that may present for the resident or other residents. Public health guidance has been developed in order to assist and support providers in this regard.
Last month, new visitation guidance for long-term residential care facilities was approved and published. This guidance incorporates early learning from the positive impact of the vaccine rollout nationally and internationally and will provide enhanced opportunity for visiting in nursing homes across all levels of the Government’s Plan “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead”. While the previous guidance had provided for visiting on critical and compassionate grounds the new guidance expands the scope of visiting on general compassionate grounds as well as further refining the guidance across levels 1 to 5. The revised guidance provides at Levels 3, 4 and 5, subject to risk assessment and no open outbreak, that residents may be facilitated to receive two visits per week, where 8 out of 10 of every resident and healthcare worker in the nursing home has received their vaccine has completed their vaccination schedule.
At the time of publication last month a commitment was given to further review the visitation guidance in April. This review is ongoing and it is anticipated that draft revised guidance will be considered by NPHET this month.
2148. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health when the application for approval of the drug patisiran will be considered again under the Health Act 2013 for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19982/21]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
The HSE has advised that it received an application in December 2018 for the reimbursement of Patisiran (Onpattro) for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR amyloidosis) in adult patients with stage 1 or stage 2 polyneuropathy.
In January 2019, a full health technology assessment (HTA) with respect to this indication was commissioned by the HSE. This assessment was completed in February 2020, with the NCPE recommending that Patisiran not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness could be improved relative to existing treatments.
The HTA report with respect to Patisiran was reviewed by the HSE Drugs Group in July 2020, along with the outputs of commercial discussions with the applicant which took place in May 2020, and the patient group submission received during the HTA process.
The HSE Drugs Group requested patient and clinician input via the Rare Diseases Technology Review Committee (RDTRC) to assist the group in making its recommendation to the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT) regarding reimbursement of Patisiran.
The RDTRC convened on 24 September and reviewed the clinical data previously submitted as part of the established pricing and reimbursement process. The Committee also heard from Consultants involved in the specialist management of patients with hATTR amyloidosis.
The RDTRC continued its review of Patisiran at its subsequent meeting on 5 November which included patient input on the impact of hATTR amyloidosis.
Following these meetings, the Committee finalised a statement summarising the clinician and patient engagement on Patisiran which was received by the HSE Drugs Group on 26 November.
The HSE has advised that it met with the applicant company in December 2020 and in early January 2021 for further discussions and deliberations on the pricing position.
At its January 2021 meeting, the HSE Drugs Group reviewed all the relevant documentation concerning the application, including information provided by the RDTRC. The HSE has advised that, having considered all of the criteria of which is obliged to take account, the HSE Drugs Group was unable to recommend in favour of reimbursement.
The decision-making authority in the HSE is the HSE Executive Management Team (EMT). The HSE EMT decides on the basis of all the demands with which it is faced (across all services) whether it can fund a new medicine, or new uses of an existing medicine, from the resources that have been provided to it in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE has confirmed that it issued notice to the applicant company of the proposed decision of the EMT not to support reimbursement of Patisiran in February 2021.
Where the HSE EMT team has considered a recommendation of non-reimbursement from the HSE Drugs Group and proposes to accept such a recommendation, the HSE is legally required (in line with the 2013 Health Act) to set out in detail a notice of any proposed decision to an applicant company. The HSE is also legally required in such circumstances to provide at least a 28-day period (from the formal written notice of proposal) to enable an applicant company to consider the proposal not to reimburse and to make representations to the HSE. The HSE is legally required to consider any such representations in advance of a formal decision.
The HSE advises that the applicant company submitted representations on 5 March and 12 March, in response to the EMT’s proposed decision. The application for Patisiran and the applicant's representations are to be included on the agenda for the HSE Drugs Group's May 2021 meeting, with a view to making a recommendation to the HSE EMT on the basis of all of the available evidence, in line with the 2013 Health Act.
The application for the reimbursement of Patisiran remains under consideration with the HSE. As decision-making authority, the HSE EMT will, following receipt of the outcome of the HSE Drugs Group's deliberations, make a decision on whether Patisiran will be reimbursed.
2151. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if the home vaccination scheme is operational for those who are seriously incapacitated and cannot leave their home; and if not, when this scheme will commence. [19985/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2152. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that medical cannabis accessed regularly and legitimately by patients and their family on their behalf from sources outside the State is paid for at source rather than imposing a burdensome cost on the patient or family which is reimbursed such as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19987/21]
View answerI am very sympathetic to such cases. I have asked my officials to examine this issue.
I would refer the Deputy to Section 10B of the Health Act 2004 (as inserted by section 6 of the Health Service Executive (Governance) Act 2013), under which the Minister for Health may not give a direction to the Executive in the manner as sought by the Deputy.
2153. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if a person who has had a procedure (details supplied) and now requires medication for life can be reimbursed medical costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19988/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2154. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the operational status of each of the mass vaccination centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19990/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2155. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the staffing composition for each of the mass vaccination centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19991/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2156. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost incurred for each mass vaccination centre to date by spend type; the spend on private contractors by service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19992/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2157. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he expects each of the mass vaccination centres to be fully operational, staffed and operating at capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19993/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2158. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the target of vaccine delivery in estimated numbers of doses per week for each of the mass vaccination centres for each month in April, May and June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19994/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2159. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when the vaccination appointment portal will be available to the wider population for age cohorts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19995/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2160. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health when he expects mass vaccination centres to begin vaccinating age cohorts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19996/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
