Wednesday, 18 Jan 2023

Written Answers Nos. 1167-1186

Medicinal Products

Questions (1167)

Gino Kenny

Question:

1167. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will make the drug ozempic available on the drugs payment scheme (details supplied). [63185/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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.

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). There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and/or reimbursed.

Medicines can only be reimbursed by the HSE when prescribed for HSE-approved indications. Ozempic (Semaglutide) is licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority in Ireland and indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ozempic was approved by the HSE for addition to the Reimbursement List for the treatment of diabetes in 2018. Diabetes is one of the Long Term Illness (LTI) conditions for which eligible LTI persons can access their medicines to treat their diabetes free of charge.

Controls are in place within the Primary Care Reimbursement Service scheme management systems (and are put in place and updated as required) on claiming processes to ensure that only HSE approved indications are reimbursed across a range of medicines. Controls are currently in place for Ozempic to restrict reimbursement support to the HSE approved indication of diabetes.

I would refer the Deputy to The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) website which has recently published communication to prescribers in Ireland with regard to the licensing and reimbursement of Ozempic: www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/Shortages-Docs/novo-nordisk---glp-1-product-range.pdf?sfvrsn=2.

Health Services

Questions (1168)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1168. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he will define the term 'blue-light' distance when used in the context of maternity service, in particular the provision of home birth supports; if this is a term used by the National Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63188/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1169)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1169. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health when the review and-or investigations into water births will be completed; the date on which water births will be facilitated for those home-birthing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63189/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1170)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1170. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the studies, analysis and evidence used to support the decision of the HSE to limit, due to safety concerns, all home-birth services outside a 30-minute blue-light distance from their nearest maternity service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63190/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1171)

Jennifer Whitmore

Question:

1171. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the counties in which the HSE home birth service is provided; if County Wicklow is one of the counties where the service is fully available; if there has been any reduction in the availability of this service recently and or if any changes to the services are proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63191/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Dental Services

Questions (1172)

Robert Troy

Question:

1172. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide approval for a patient (details supplied) to be fitted with chrome cobalt palate free dentures. [63212/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (1173)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

1173. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the date by which workers employed by organisations (details supplied) will be paid the pandemic recognition payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63219/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (1174)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1174. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if a hospital appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63243/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Ambulance Service

Questions (1175, 1729)

Bríd Smith

Question:

1175. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details in relation to the recruitment drive by the National Ambulance Service for qualified paramedics (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63261/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

1729. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps that he is taking to improve recruitment to the National Ambulance Service. [2433/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1175 and 1729 together.

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Departmental Inquiries

Questions (1176, 1186, 1213, 1241, 1359, 1364, 1533)

Bríd Smith

Question:

1176. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the establishment of the promised inquiry on the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; when he expects that the inquiry will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63262/22]

Gino Kenny

Question:

1186. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of the promised inquiry on the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; when he expects the inquiry to be established given that families are anxiously waiting for the announcement of the sodium valproate inquiry by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63311/22]

Claire Kerrane

Question:

1213. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the establishment of an inquiry into the licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63429/22]

Sorca Clarke

Question:

1241. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if his Department have provided him with the details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of Sodium Valproate; and if so, when he intends to bring a Memo for Government on this issue. [63529/22]

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

1359. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the status of the inquiry for the drug sodium valproate; when he intends it to be established; the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63928/22]

Ciarán Cannon

Question:

1364. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding the establishment of the promised inquiry on the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; when he expects the inquiry will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63946/22]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1533. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of the promised inquiry on the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate; when the inquiry will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1643/23]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1176, 1186, 1213, 1241, 1359, 1364 and 1533 together.

The details of the proposed inquiry into the historical licensing and use of Sodium Valproate in Ireland are currently being completed by officials within the Department of Health. A Memo for Government will be brought as soon as this work is completed.

Health Services

Questions (1177)

Bríd Smith

Question:

1177. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the services that are currently available to those diagnosed with foetal valproate spectrum disorder; the way that families can access these services within their communities following a diagnosis; if he will provide an update on discussions between the HSE and his Department to improve access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63263/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As these questions relate to operational matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1178)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

1178. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63265/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (1179)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

1179. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63268/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Ambulance Service

Questions (1180)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

1180. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health the number of external Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council-registered qualified paramedics who applied for positions with the National Ambulance Service; the number of successful candidates since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63271/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Irish Sign Language

Questions (1181)

Martin Browne

Question:

1181. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health if there are adequate numbers of Irish sign language interpreters to provide services for persons with hearing difficulties in hospital; the process involved in securing an Irish sign language interpreter for inpatients and outpatients; the way that such interpreters are sourced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63276/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1182)

Colm Burke

Question:

1182. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health when the routine eye examinations and glasses for persons with medical cards under the community ophthalmic services scheme fee increase will come into effect; the amount of an increase that there will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63295/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Community Ophthalmic Services Scheme (COSS) is a national fee-per-item scheme which was introduced in 1979. Under the COSS, medical card holders aged over 16 years can be seen by ophthalmologists, community ophthalmic physicians, optometrists or dispensing opticians.  

Eligible patients can receive an eye examination and be provided with prescribed optical appliances in accordance with a national schedule of approved optical appliances.

The Health Professionals (Reduction of Payments to Ophthalmologists, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians) Regulations 2013 (SI 274 of 2013) sets the fees for optometrists and dispensing opticians under the Community Optometric Services, Community Spectacle Dispensing Services and Health Amendment Act Card Schemes.

I am committed to increasing the fees payable to contractors for a standard eye examination under the COSS. This is a priority for my Department, and work with stakeholders is ongoing to implement this change in 2023.

Health Services

Questions (1183)

Colm Burke

Question:

1183. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the proposed start date for the implementation of the proposals in the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology; and the start date for the transfer of care of children aged 8+ years to local private optometrists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63305/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1184)

Colm Burke

Question:

1184. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if funding is in place for the development of the community model for eye care, which covers cataract assessment, paediatrics and macular disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63306/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1185)

Colm Burke

Question:

1185. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for access to ophthalmology services in respect of each HSE division; the total number currently waiting for an appointment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63307/22]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Question No. 1186 answered with Question No. 1176.