Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Medicinal Products

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 June 2012

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Ceisteanna (63)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

145 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when cancer patients may expect to be able to receive Ipilimumab; the reasons for the further delay in its provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29447/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Health Service Executive announced on 3 May that from that date Ipilimumab (trade name Yervoy), the new drug for patients with progressive melanoma, was being made available. The decision was the culmination of a comprehensive technology review process within the National Cancer Control Programme which included the drug company submission, a clinical practice guideline from medical oncologists and a pharmacoeconomic analysis by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. A subsequent written notice was issued by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) on 15 May to all hospital CEOs, medical oncologists and also hospital chief pharmacists that Ipilimumab was now available and providing additional information re patient eligibility. The letter also provided an interim means for hospitals to register patients for the drug. To the end of last week, 5 registrations had been received.

On 8 June, the NCCP wrote to the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme (PCRS), confirming that the PCRS was implementing this new system whereby hospitals administering Ipilimumab should register the patient and the diagnosis with PCRS and submit billings to PCRS as the first drug to be administered under this new national oncology drugs demand led scheme, whereby money will follow the patient in a national process which captures eligibility information and utilisation. The final steps in the reimbursement process will be communicated to hospital CEOs in the next 2 weeks.

Barr
Roinn