Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2023
1333. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline he is working towards to develop a new rare disease strategy; if this strategy will address the significant delays in the drug reimbursement approval process, which can lead to a huge financial cost for people with rare conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12994/23]
View answerI recently announced my intention to bring forward a successor plan to the existing National Rare Disease Plan 2014 - 2018. While this work was delayed by the pandemic, the Government has continued to invest significant resources in the area of new medicines in recent years. In 2021 nineteen (19) orphan medicines for rare diseases were added to the reimbursement list. In 2022, the number was sixteen (16), and to date in 2023, already there are twenty-seven (27) new orphan drugs undergoing pricing and reimbursement assessment.
Last month, I published the Mazars Review which examined the governance arrangements around the HSE’s Drug Pricing and Reimbursement Process. I fully support the recommendations contained in the Mazars report that improve the process, provide easier access, and support value for money. An implementation group is being established between my Department and the HSE to consider and progress the various recommendations contained in the Report as well as other options to improve the process. The Group will engage with stakeholders including patient groups and industry, in seeking to bring about further improvements to the reimbursement process.
