Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
385. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if his Department plans to remove the age restriction on funding for the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system for persons with diabetes over the age of 21 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48801/21]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has now commissioned a full Health Technology Assessment of the FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system to be conducted by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) in collaboration with the Medicines Management Programme. The recommendations that arise will be considered once the Assessment is completed.In the meantime, Consultant Endocrinologists/Diabetes Nurse Specialists may apply to the HSE, on behalf of specific patients, for reimbursement support of FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring sensors. The application process is undertaken by means of a dedicated online portal, which has been operational since 3rd April 2018.
In line with the recommendations outlined by the Health Technology Assessment Group, access to this product was made available to children and young adults, aged 4 - 21 years. However, the application process does cater for the Consultant to make an application in very exceptional circumstances for a type 1 diabetic patient outside of this group.
