Written Answers Nos. 607-621
610. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric ophthalmologists attached to both CHI Crumlin and CHI Temple Street in the years of 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29153/23]
View answerAs this a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
611. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE advanced nurse practitioners for diabetes in pregnancy working in each maternity unit in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29154/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
612. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE cardiac physiologists attached to University Hospital Waterford in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29155/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
613. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of addiction rehabilitation, detox and stabilisation beds opened in CHO5 in the years of 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29156/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
614. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if an appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29166/23]
View answerUnder 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.
615. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the operation for a person (details supplied). [29167/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
616. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a shortage of supply of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products in Ireland; his plans to ensure a regular supply of these products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29168/23]
View answer618. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health his views on the shortage of HRT (hormone replacement therapy), used to relieve the symptoms of menopause, in pharmacies across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29170/23]
View answer633. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he has been made aware of the current lack of supply of progesterone across pharmacies in the country; if he is taking action to rectify the supply issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29209/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 616, 618 and 633 together.
Besins Healthcare Ireland Limited has advised of a shortage of Utrogestan Vaginal 200mg Vaginal Capsule, impacting multiple markets due to increased demand. The company anticipates resupply towards the end of June 2023. The company has stated that Exempt Medicinal Product (EMP*) is available to meet patient demand.
Laboratoires Besins International has also advised of a shortage of Imvaggis 0.03 mg Pessary, impacting multiple markets. The company stated the reason is manufacturing delays and supply is expected in early July.
Alternatives are available. Many Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) are authorised for use in Ireland in various formulations (e.g., oral tablets, transdermal patches, gels, and sprays) and strengths. For the vast majority of HRT products authorised, including transdermal patches and gels, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has not received any notifications of current shortages. This includes all but two of the above mentioned authorised products outlined in the HSE’s clinical guidance for HRT (hyperlink below).
MMP guidance for prescribers on HRT shortages – September 2022 (hse.ie)
Unfortunately, medicine shortages are a feature of modern health systems worldwide which have been exacerbated by recent worldwide events. There are a multitude of reasons why a medicine may not be available including: shortages of raw materials; manufacturing difficulties; sudden unexpected increase in demand; or product recalls due to potential quality issues. Ireland has a multi-stakeholder medicine shortage framework in place, coordinated by the HPRA, to prevent, wherever possible, and to manage medicine shortages when they occur. The Department of Health maintains regular contact with the HPRA regarding medicines shortages.
The HPRA publishes a list of medicines currently in short supply on its website (Medicines Shortages (hpra.ie) with the reason for the shortage and expected dates for the return of supply. The information is available to assist healthcare professionals in managing medicine shortages when they arise and reduce their impact on patients. The information relating to shortages on the HPRA website is dynamic and changes depending on the current information.
*Schedule 1 of the Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations includes an exemption which enables practitioners to prescribe a medicine as an exempt medicinal product (EMP) under that practitioners direct responsibility, in order to fulfil the special needs of that specific patient. If a valid prescription is issued for an EMP in line with the above Regulations, an appropriately authorised wholesaler can source that product from another market for supply to the patient via their pharmacy in line with that prescription.
As EMPs have not been granted a marketing authorisation in Ireland by the HPRA, they would not be assessed by the HPRA for quality, safety or efficacy. If sourced in response to a bona fide unsolicited order as a licensed product from another market these medicines will have undergone an evaluation of their safety, quality, and efficacy for the granting of their marketing authorisation in that country carried out by the respective competent authority for medicines in that state.
617. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the consideration that is being given to addressing the pay disparity between Section 38 and Section 39 workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29169/23]
View answerFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022. While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
On 17 April, officials from the Department of Health, the HSE, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Tusla met with union representatives under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. This engagement sought to understand and explore the scope of the unions' claim for pay rises for Community and Voluntary sector workers. A follow up engagement took place at the Workplace Relations Commission on 15 May 2023. A further engagement is due to take place at the WRC in the coming weeks. As this is an ongoing Industrial Relations process, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this point.
The Department notes that this is a cross-sectoral issue and cannot be taken in isolation.
620. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the representative bodies he and his Department have engaged with as part of the review of community pharmacies services, the representative bodies that remain to be engaged with, and the timeline for such engagement. [29176/23]
View answer621. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health his and his Departments engagement to date with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to an increase in dispensing fees for community pharmacies to €6.50 per medicine. [29177/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 620 and 621 together.
The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.
Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the current pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. My Department is currently carrying out a review and Department officials have arranged to meet with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in that regard.
Should the review determine that the regulations governing the fee structure should be amended, engagement with the Health Service Executive and with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will take place in that regard. In addition, formal consultation with the IPU will be carried out in advance of amending the regulations. The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform must consent to any regulations made under Section 42(1) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017.
