Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1185. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health to outline the timeline and next steps of the Working Group overseeing his Department's response to a report (details supplied) into Ireland's reimbursement system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35968/23]
View answerAn Implementation Working Group has been established with members from the Department, HSE CPU, NCPE, National Cancer Control Programme, and HSE Drugs Group. Its terms of reference include the progression of a proposal for an application tracker, which the HSE has been asked to prepare. Following this, the Group is to examine the feasibility and options for the prioritised recommendations in the implementation plan.
The Working Group met twice in May. The Group engaged in a targeted consultation with stakeholders from industry, patient organisations, and clinical practice. Invitations were issued to identified key stakeholders to submit their feedback on the Report. The targeted stakeholder consultation commenced on the 31st of May and concluded on the 20th of June when the Working Group heard presentations from a range of these stakeholders. The insights gained from the stakeholders will now be considered by the Group.
The Working Group is scheduled to meet on a fortnightly basis over the coming months, to consider the involvement of patients, industry, and clinicians, in each stage of the reimbursement process. The Group is tasked to report to the Minister on measures undertaken to address the priority recommendations in the Report, and to provide other ambitious proposals to increase access to new medicines for patients.
