Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
1432. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if the supplementary medications and treatment required for chronic Lyme disease will be covered by the general medical scheme and the drug treatment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1244/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 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 formal 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 Minister for Health has no role in these decisions.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection that occurs when recreational or occupation activities result in tick bites from an infected tick. It is relatively rare with estimations that a small proportion of ticks in Ireland are infected.
All patients symptomatic of Lyme disease should be treated with appropriate antibiotics. Appropriate antibiotics minimise the likelihood of the development of late stage infection and long-term complications of Lyme disease through a) post-exposure prophylaxis or b) early treatment of erythema migrans.
Further information can be found at: www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/2/gp/antibiotic-prescribing/conditions-and-treatments/skin-soft-tissue/lyme-disease/.
The following treatments, as outlined on the HSE webpage below, are available on the Reimbursement List for the treatment of Lyme Disease:
- Doxycycline
- Amoxicillin
- Azithromycin
