I propose to take Questions Nos. 836 and 837 together.
In January 2022, Government approved expenditure to procure a range of COVID-19 therapeutic treatments, and significant volumes have subsequently been secured. These treatments have been readily available and in use across the Irish healthcare system since February 2022. However, it is accepted that the uptake and use of these therapeutic treatments has to date been low in Ireland, and particularly in view of the risk posed by BA.4 / BA.5 and any potential winter surge, it is my firm view that efforts should now be focussed on promoting their use more widely, in order to protect those most at risk of progressing to severe disease. As such, my Department has requested that the HSE review the treatment pathways and patient selection criteria, to ensure consistent accessibility for those vulnerable individuals for whom treatment is appropriate.
I have also requested that action is taken to enhance communication and education programmes to promote the benefits of utilising COVID-19 therapeutics, ensuring clinicians have the required knowledge, access and comfort to safely prescribe treatment where appropriate. Every effort should be taken to proactively identify vulnerable patient candidates and to ensure all individuals who may be eligible for treatment are fully informed of their potential candidacy should they contract COVID-19.
These therapeutics are another important tool available to combat this virus, and it important we utilise them appropriately to protect hospital capacity and preserve health service delivery, both now, in mitigating against the current deterioration in epidemiological situation associated with the BA.4/ BA.5 subvariants, and in the future, recognising the potential for the emergence of new variants.
