Written Answers Nos. 1067-1087
1068. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if all senior citizens are entitled to referral to primary care centres to access, for example, physiotherapy regardless of whether they have a medical card or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22117/21]
View answerThe Health Act 1970 (as amended) provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical card holders) and limited eligibility (all others). Full eligibility is determined primarily by reference to income limits. Determination of an individual’s eligibility status is the responsibility of the HSE.
Adults with full eligibility can access a range of services including GP services, prescribed drugs and medicines, all in-patient public hospital services in public wards, including consultants’ services, all out-patient public hospital services including consultants’ services, dental, ophthalmic and aural services and appliances and a maternity and infant care service. Persons with limited eligibility are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including Consultant services, Emergency Department or minor injury care, are subject to certain charges.
With regard to physiotherapy and other similar therapy services, there is no statutory obligation on the HSE to provide services to clients and, conversely, no legal obstacle to doing so. In practice, arrangements are generally made to provide these services to medical card holders and to persons with limited eligibility to the extent that resources allow.
1070. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to examine the way to support local drugs and alcohol taskforces in identifying local need in communities and support targeted initiatives addressing drug and alcohol misuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22130/21]
View answerThe National Drugs Strategy ‘Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery’ sets out the Government’s strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse in Ireland up to 2025. The Department of Health provides over €130 million to drug and alcohol services to support the strategy.
Drug and alcohol task forces play a key role in implementing the national drugs strategy at the local level. They assess the extent and nature of the drug problem and initiate appropriate responses, so that there is a coordinated approach involving all sectors to the problem of substance misuse in local communities and local communities are consulted in the design and deliver services.
The Department of Health provides €28m in funding to the 24 drug and alcohol task forces that operate throughout the country in defined geographical areas. The Department engages with key stakeholders in the network of drug and alcohol task forces and takes input on the level of need in local communities, from those service providers working in the community. This in turn informs decision-making relating to the allocation of funding and provision of services.
The Department of Health has developed a 'Framework for the ‘Restoration and Continuation of Drug and Alcohol services', in a planned and appropriate manner in line with public health advice. To support the Framework, the Department provided once-off funding of €480,000 in November 2020 for the restoration of drug and alcohol services including the adaptation of services, premises, online meetings, and personal protective equipment.
An additional €1 million was provided in Budget 2021 to develop targeted drug and alcohol initiatives through the network of drug and alcohol task forces. The allocation of this funding will be informed by the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy and strategic action plan 2021-2025, which will be finalised shortly.
Over the last few months, I have met with drug and alcohol task forces to discuss support for their work in identifying and responding to local needs, including the challenges for people who use drugs during Covid-19.
I want to ensure that the additional resources are directed towards those interventions which are most likely to lead to a reduction in problem drug use and a positive improvement in public health. In particular, the funding should be used to expand the availability of drug and alcohol services in communities based on identified need, especially in communities that have limited access to services at the moment. I will announce details of the new €1m funding programme shortly.
1071. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his Department has undertaken an analysis to determine if the recent Zalewski judgment by the Supreme Court has any implications for those regulatory bodies under the aegis of his Department which make determinations of a quasi-judicial nature particularly in circumstances in which fitness to practice hearings are not held in public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22131/21]
View answerI am aware of the judgment referred to. I understand that my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment will be convening a group considering the potential impact that this judgment may have on other quasi-judicial bodies administering permissible justice.
Units in my Department with responsibility for oversight of regulatory bodies will be engaging with these bodies and considering the implications, if any, of this judgment on 'fitness-to-practice' hearings.
1072. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the cost of each contract entered into by his Department and the agencies under his remit to deal with Covid-19 management and reaction; and the name of the contractor in each case. [22141/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1073. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when a consultant will be able to prescribe under the medical cannabis access programme and have it covered under the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22169/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.
1074. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the status of the treatment lanadelumab for hereditary angioedema; when he expects a final decision to be made on its funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22173/21]
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 licenced indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
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, on 14 March 2019, it received an application for the reimbursement of Lanadelumab (Takhzyro) for the routine prevention of recurrent attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in patients aged 12 years and older.
On 28 May 2019, following the completion by the NCPE of a rapid review, the HSE commissioned a full health technology assessment (HTA) with respect to this indication, as per agreed processes.
On 4 October 2019, the NCPE received the applicant’s submission for this assessment. On 26 June 2020, the NCPE completed its assessment and recommended that Lanadelumab not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness could be improved relative to existing treatments.
In December 2020, the HSE Drugs Group considered the pricing/reimbursement application for Lanadelumab. In formulating its recommendation, the Drugs Group considered the final HTA report, alongside the outputs of commercial negotiations which took place in August 2020. The Drugs Group recommended that reimbursement for Lanadelumab be approved, conditional on the establishment of a HSE managed access programme and clinical guideline to support its reimbursement.
The final decision-making authority in the HSE is the Executive Management Team (EMT). In January 2021, the EMT supported reimbursement of Lanadelumab subject to the implementation of the HSE managed access programme.
Processes required to implement an individual patient approval system are currently ongoing with a view to enabling reimbursement for patients who meet the pre-defined criteria as per the HSE Medicines Management Programme devised managed access protocol that is currently in development.
The HSE decision with respect to Lanadelumab will be formalised in accordance with the 2013 Health Act.
1075. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the drug reimbursement decisions made by the HSE drugs group and executive management team, respectively in each of its meetings from January 2020, to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22174/21]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
1076. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the public Covid-19 guidelines with respect to outdoor holiday campsites that cater for self-contained vehicles only; and if clear information will be provided to this sector regarding when it will be permitted to reopen. [22187/21]
View answerLevel 5 restrictive measures currently remain in place. Any measures introduced at any level of the Plan are aimed at limiting the spread and damage of COVID-19 and are necessary to protect our key priorities of supporting and maintaining health and social care services, keeping education and childcare services open and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.
The Government announced a phased easing of restrictions over April in recognition of the significant impact that the extended period of Level 5 restrictions is having on people. The focus of this easing of measures is on enabling more outdoor activities in order to improve the health and wellbeing of society.
The situation will be subject to ongoing review taking account of the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the reopening of priority services, and available evidence in relation to vaccine deployment, uptake and effectiveness. The NPHET and the Government will consider the position again later this week and it is anticipated that a roadmap for the further easing of measures over the coming months will be agreed.
Significant progress has been made on suppressing the virus due to the huge effort of our citizens. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to avoid the virus spreading.
Guidelines in relation to caravan and camping parks are a matter for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
1077. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE and the National Cancer Control Programme to collect and collate all data relating to the number of serious diagnoses made following delayed screening procedures in order that the full data on the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions will be made known (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22200/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
1079. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health the status of the work and research his Department has been conducting into long-Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22203/21]
View answerThere is emerging evidence of longer-term effects of infection with Sars-CoV-2. An evidence synthesis published by HSE Library in Oct 2020 describes similar symptomatology across the range of observational studies to those noted in the more recent studies. A wide range of symptoms have been described ranging across multiple body organs and systems, with causes as yet unknown. The symptom complex is variable, can be isolated to a single system/organ or multiple systems/organs and are similar to the ranges of symptoms described in other post-viral and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes.
The HSE has advised that clinical management is currently based on symptomatology and includes pulmonary rehabilitation, physiotherapy (particularly for deconditioned older people), symptomatic management of shortness of breath, and beta blockers for tachycardia.
A support group, https://www.covidcasesireland.ie/ was set up in June 2020 and consists of more than 1800 members. This group is engaging constructively with HSE.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1080. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if travel to a different country for a medical appointment or medical reasons is reasonable grounds for travel; if such action is allowed in law; if a person should be fined for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22204/21]
View answerS.I. 168/2021 states that ‘an applicable person shall not travel to an airport or port for the purpose of leaving the State without reasonable excuse. S.I. 168/2021 details reasonable excuses for travel to an airport or port for purpose of leaving the State. These include:
(e) attend a medical or dental appointment, or accompany, to such an appointment, any other person residing with the person, or a vulnerable person,
(f) seek essential medical, health or dental assistance for the person, for any other person residing with the person, or for a vulnerable person,
For additional details please see the following webpages: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/75d92-covid-19-travel-advice/
1081. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the policies in his Department regarding the correspondence carried out by the Minister of the Department in the conduct of Department businesses or in relation to Department business; the actions his Department takes to retrieve such correspondence that is carried out through private messaging services and ensure it is held on Departmental records; and the action taken in cases in which a Minister does not share this correspondence or it cannot be retrieved. [22209/21]
View answerThe Department of Health is committed to transparency, honesty and openness in how it provides public access to records, including correspondence, while balancing the public interest and the right to privacy of individuals. The Department takes its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act seriously and makes every reasonable effort to assist with the identification and provision of records in accordance with the spirit and requirements of the legislation.
It is not the policy of the Department of Health to monitor stored files, voicemail, e-mail, etc. However, the Department retains the right to review, audit, intercept, access and disclose all files and messages created, received or sent using its ICT facilities for the purpose of performance, maintenance, auditing, security or investigative functions and to protect itself and users from potential liability under pornographic, equality, data protection, copyright legislation etc. Each individual in the Department has a responsibility to ensure that records created by them are managed appropriately.
1082. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the campaign led by an organisation (details supplied) regarding access for all persons with type 1 diabetes to the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22224/21]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
1084. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time at each vaccination centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22228/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1085. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the review conducted on the cost effectiveness of flash glucose monitoring technology for those with type 1 diabetes; if he will consider making this technology available for all persons in Ireland with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22236/21]
View answerThe review referred to by the Deputy was undertaken by the HSE. Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
