Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022
666. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans for rolling out antivirals and monoclonal antibody treatments; if any further deliveries have been received since 20 January 2022 when approximately 1,000 treatment courses arrived; the number of the first delivery that has been used to treat patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9087/22]
View answerA National Therapeutics Advisory Group has been established by the HSE to evaluate, advise, and provide recommendations on all therapeutics with potential for use in the treatment of COVID-19 in Ireland. This encompasses a range of antivirals and monoclonal antibodies currently awaiting, or having recently received, EMA approval.
In parallel, a Therapeutics Operational Group, to be informed by the recommendations of the Therapeutics Advisory Group, has been established to develop the arrangements for provision of these treatments and work is ongoing to establish and develop the most efficient pathways to identify those patients who may benefit from their use. It is important to note that these treatments are not for widespread use, and the benefit will be limited to particular cohorts of high-risk vulnerable patients.
