Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
739. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the details of the contract between the HSE and the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics that underpins pharmaceutical product applications for reimbursement; what the agreement requires of the NCPE in conducting its role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26090/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive's Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit (CPU) commissions the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) to assess medicines following receipt of an application for reimbursement. The NCPE are commissioned to review the following classes of medicines:
- New active substances seeking reimbursement in Ireland.
- New indications for currently reimbursed drugs.
- Drugs which are already reimbursed by the HSE and are associated with high expenditure or uncertain clinical benefit.
All medicines are initially subjected to a Rapid Review. Products with a high-cost relative to potential comparators and/or those with a net impact on the drugs budget will be subjected to a full Health Technology Assessment (HTA). Similarly, products where there is a query in relation to the comparative clinical efficacy and/or value for money will also be selected for full HTA.
A full HTA is a systematic assessment of the clinical, cost-effectiveness and potential budget impact of a medicine. Following a full HTA, an assessment report outlining the NCPE’s conclusions and recommendations is sent to the HSE CPU to support evidence-based decision-making on reimbursement. In the case of oncology drugs, a report is also sent to the HSE National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
The process is outlined in the Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines between IPHA, the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE (2021-2025), available at www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cpu/drugs-group-minutes/%20ipha%20agreement%202021-2025%20supporting%20materials.pdf. The scientific/ technical aspects of the NCPE's work are independent of the HSE.
