Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2012
559 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the proposals being worked on regarding a national disease plan and the progress of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27797/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of clinical programmes to manage the care of people living with long term conditions have been developed by the HSE. These include programmes for cardiovascular disease (Acute Coronary Syndrome, Heart Failure and Stroke), respiratory disease (Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)), diabetes, cancer and primary care. Focusing on these existing programmes will be the Chronic Disease Prevention Programme which has recently established by the HSE.
The Chronic Disease Prevention Programme is proposing to concentrate on three suggested key areas as follows:
Ensure that people at known high risk of recurrence of illness or death through CVD, diabetes, respiratory or cancer conditions, receive an evidence-based programme of care in primary care and hospital.
To detect people not previously identified with risk factors which place them at high risk of illness or death. These may be risk factors common to cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory, and cancer, and initiate an evidence-based programme of care in primary care and, to a lesser extent, in hospital.
To address the high population burden of risk factors for chronic disease in Ireland through measures open to the HSE and also in association with other stakeholders.
In addition a current priority for my Department is the development of a national plan in relation to the issue of rare diseases. EU proposals on rare disease, which Ireland fully supports, recommended the development of plans or strategies preferably by the end of 2013. We are now well advanced in developing this work.
In April 2011, I established a National Steering Group to develop a policy framework for the prevention, detection and treatment of rare diseases based on the principles of high quality care, equity and to be patient centred.
An integral part of an effective policy framework will be the development of a dedicated HSE clinical programme which the HSE has agreed to establish. I understand that arrangements are currently being made by the HSE to put in place management and clinical leads for the new National Clinical Programme for Rare Diseases.
The steering group is also consulting with stakeholders in preparation for the final phase of the plan's development. A consultation day was held yesterday and an online survey facility is available on the HSE's website for the next five weeks. I expect the plan to be submitted to me later this year.
